One yawn, a second, a third and it’s your turn. Many biological explanations have been put forward, but what is the scientific consensus?
Articles on Yawning
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Try to read this article without yawning.
Everybody does it, but why? Scientists aren’t really sure if exhaustion, stress or some other social factor is at the root of yawning – and how it can be so contagious.
We don’t have evidence that can point us to the exact purpose of yawning. But there are several theories.
Most of us have experienced the overwhelming urge to yawn in response to another person yawning – but we’re not the only species to do this. Research published in PeerJ today shows bonobos – our…
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Honorary Associate Professor, UNSW
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Mark Elgar is a Friend of The Conversation.
Emeritus Professor of Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology, The University of Melbourne
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Lecturer in Physiology, The University of Melbourne
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Senior Lecturer in Physiology, Swinburne University of Technology
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Assistant Clinical Professor of Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University
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Senior Curator of Human Biology and Medicine, Museums Victoria Research Institute
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Ingénieur·e en neurosciences cognitives et Enseignant·e, Université Lumière Lyon 2
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Professor, University of Pisa