Yawns really ARE contagious; science explains why

( Natural News ) Do you find yourself with an urge to yawn after seeing someone else do it? If you do, you’re not alone. In an article on Newswise , a psychologist from the Texas A&M College of Medicine explains that these so-called “contagious yawns” are something people share with other animals species and explains why these are so contagious . According to Dr. Meredith Williamson, a psychologist and clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M , scientists previously believed that yawning is an indication of a need for sleep. However, today, they think that it can communicate a shift in alertness to boredom. A yawn is a way for the body to get a fresh supply of oxygen. Yawning is commonly done by stressed people or athletes whenever they need to be alert. Although researchers still do not fully understand why yawns are contagious, they have come up with a few theories. One well-known theory on why yawning is contagious is that it is associated with empathy. People who have greater levels of empathy are more likely to yawn more frequently when someone else yawns compared to someone who has lower empathy levels, or someone with a mental disorder. According to Williamson, research has shown that yawning may not be as contagious to people with autism or schizophrenia. A 2013 study found that when children with autism focused their gaze on people’s mouths instead of their eyes, they were more likely to experience a contagious yawn. This suggested that facial expressions and social cues may be more of a factor than empathy. Get more news like this without being censored : Get the Natural News app for your mobile devices. Enjoy uncensored news, lab test results, videos, podcasts and more. Bypass all the unfair censorship by Google, Facebook, […]

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