WHY IS YAWN CONTAGIOUS 2
for preparing the brains for a swift action in case of threat. This is however just a personal
opinion with regards to yawning.
There is also the physiological theory regarding yawning where it is said that the human
body induces yawning as a way of drawing in more oxygen and removing accumulated carbon
(IV) oxide. This theory explains the occurrence of group yawns where it explains that there are
large amounts of carbon (IV) oxide produced in groups which makes the body to act in a manner
to get rid of the carbon (IV) oxide gas while taking in more oxygen. However, this was just a
theoretical speculation which was opposed by a neuroscientist, Robert Provine of University of
Maryland who tested the theory and ascertained that additional oxygen doesn’t reduce yawning
and reducing the amounts of carbon (IV) oxide also never prevented yawning (Provine, 2005).
Though the real cause of contagious yawning has never been scientifically established; it
still remains a scientific mystery. Evolutionary traits often have several reasons behind them
because they evolve around a lot of bases. There is the modern adaptation that yawning may just
be faked and not contagious as have been thought before. For instance, faked yawning may be
for a reason of signaling a long-dragged conversation (Schürmann et al., 2005). In fact, it would
be ideal to carry out a test performance on contagious yawning while meeting one’s boss at the
workplace. One would simply need to visit the office of the boss and in the course of the
conversation, take a simple rest while leaning back on the chair and yawn, then one would note
whether the manager yawns back or not. This would be a typical case study of studying
contagious yawn; whether it’s real or illusionary.
In conclusion, there hasn’t been any proper scientific documentation on the cause of
contagious yawning and it is a question that calls for further researches beyond the speculated
