Morgan BellYawn
October 26th 2008 08:48
What is a yawn?
Sometimes when im having a yawn i contemplate what a strange thing a yawn really is . . .
I generally associate yawning with being tired or bored
However, i am noticing more and more how often i yawn just from seeing someone else yawn . . . it seems it can be contagious . . . and i yawned my head off trying to research it.
Apparently theres a few theories floating around
1) yawns modulate brain temperature
2) yawns equalise middle-ear pressure
3) yawns regulate the oxygen/carbon-dioxide balance in the blood
4) yawns signal low glucose levels in the brain
5) yawns increase adreneline when alertness is needed
Id love to stay and discuss this topic further but i seriously cant stop yawning . . .
BEWARE THE INFECTIOUS YAWN!
Sometimes when im having a yawn i contemplate what a strange thing a yawn really is . . .
I generally associate yawning with being tired or bored
However, i am noticing more and more how often i yawn just from seeing someone else yawn . . . it seems it can be contagious . . . and i yawned my head off trying to research it.
Apparently theres a few theories floating around
1) yawns modulate brain temperature
2) yawns equalise middle-ear pressure
3) yawns regulate the oxygen/carbon-dioxide balance in the blood
4) yawns signal low glucose levels in the brain
5) yawns increase adreneline when alertness is needed
Id love to stay and discuss this topic further but i seriously cant stop yawning . . .
BEWARE THE INFECTIOUS YAWN!
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Comment by AmyHuang
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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yeah yawns feel great!
its a shame they can be interpetted as a sign of boredom . . . although they do tend to glaze your eyes over!
Comment by Jason King
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THE TRUTH IS that we don’t completely understand why people, or animals for that matter, yawn.
It’s widely assumed that yawning occurs because we are tired or bored or because we see someone else doing it, but there isn’t any hard evidence to support these beliefs.
Scientists do not purport to know all of the biological mechanisms of the yawn, but tend to agree that a yawn is an involuntary respiratory reflex, which regulates the carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the blood.
Technically, a yawn is the reflex opening of the mouth followed by the deep inhalation and slow exhalation of oxygen.
The very act of yawning is but one of a number of involuntary reflexes controlled by the spinal and nerve centers.
Scientists speculate that the onset of a yawn is triggered either by fatigue, or by sheer boredom as, at those times, breathing is shallow, and little oxygen is carried to the lungs by the oxygen-toting cardiovascular system.
When one yawns, his or her alertness is heightened, as the sudden intake of oxygen increases the heart rate, rids the lungs and the bloodstream of the carbon dioxide buildup, and forces oxygen through blood vessels in the brain, while restoring normal breathing and ventilating the lungs.
This quite plausible theory of yawning falls short of explaining many aspects of yawning. Scientists explain away the "contagious" nature of yawning, that is when one person's yawn triggers another nearby to yawn, as due to the power of suggestion, but are at a loss when attempting to explain why yawning occurs excessively in patients with lower brain stem damage or with multiple sclerosis.
Other unlocked mysteries include why fetuses in the womb yawn, when it is a well-known fact that they do not intake oxygen into their lungs until after live birth, or why individuals with high concentrations of oxygen in their blood streams yawn.
Until these questions are answered, do not assume that a person who yawns in your presence is bored with what you are saying, or suffers from exhaustion. Simply be pleased that he or she is not bored to death.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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hey all information is welcome!
i hoped someone would come up with some answers!
it seems like with every therory there are a few exceptions to the rule . . . maybe yawns are multi-purpose?
or maybe we just like stretching our jaw muscles from time to time?
fascinating subject i think!
Comment by Postmodern Critic
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I guess - just do everything that feels good - in moderation!
Comment by Wilson Pon
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BTW, good to know that yawn is good for health here
Happy yawning to you!
Comment by Morgan Bell
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every time i look at this post i yawn!
how wonderful are the mysteries of being alive!
hi Wilson,
hey i know what you mean about chemistry and physics . . . yawn-orama! haha
thanks for the good vibes!
Comment by Cass
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i wonder if science will ever be able to put an end to this particular mystery and offer us some sure-fire explanation?
theres some psychological theorie behind yawning, and a whole host of animal species that yawn . . . i hope we find out why some day!
Comment by Janet Collins
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It's good to know that associating yawning with boredom is not always the right thing to do. There are always lots of other interpretations (as Jason also pointed out) of the things we do.
Janet
Comment by Norm
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Is there an emoticon for it?
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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The only lay-science I know for certain - is that guaranteed every respondent either yawned or had the yearning . . . but definitely not because they were bored - how could anyone be bored reading your missives?
Stay well
Comment by sportsbar
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I was up till 2am this morning though due to the World Cup... but can't remember yawning until reading this post...
conspiracy anyone?
ps I yawned twice while writing this response... creepy
Comment by KylieW
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Comment by Cheryl J
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But I will say, it's like both a sneeze and an orgasm (but not quite as enjoyable as the latter) in as much as it feels good when it happens
Trust me to take the tone down.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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Jason always has the good info!
i hope theres a scientist out there somewhere working on some profound explanation, there seems to be quite a lot of theories floating around!
hi Norm,
i like to yawn to pop my ears so perhaps the middle-ear pressure thingy has some weight to it!
theres an open mouth emoticon but i think it is more appropriate to depict shock
hi MNG,
ahh my ever enthralling missives! haha
i wonder if people yawn on my other posts?
there might be something subliminal in my writing that causes people to open their mouths!
Comment by Morgan Bell
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it is definately contagious!
if a super-hero ever harnesses the power of the yawn i hope they use it for good instead of evil!
glad i gave your jaw a workout!
hi Kylie,
every time i come back to this post to answer the comments i yawn my head off!
yawn . . . plop!
hi Cheryl,
i can always rely on you for a good tone-lowering! haha
actually im surprised you were the first person to liken yawning to sexual expression . . . Orble is such a wholesome crowd!
im sure Bill O'Reilly will do an expose on this one day - and we will have to wait til that day to learn the real balanced truth (no spin)!
Comment by Johnny Come Lately
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That bit about people with MS yawning excessively that Jason had in his comment is interesting. I know someone with MS that yawns a lot and I always put it down to how exhausting it must be.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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oh i got you too did i? haha
the MS and brain injury yawning could be some automated bodily response in an effort to heal itself . . . maybe the brain is trying to send itself more oxygen or cool itself off to try to mend itself?
that was just my own random theory . . .
Comment by Two Guys Sports
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I had an idea while reading this post - Why doesn't some photographer somewhere do a celebrity yawn series? I mean I have seen recent posts from Morgan, Cheryl, and Natalie about with makeup, without, younger versions vs. recent looks of stars. How come you can't find pictures of celebs yawning? You know somewhere there is a paparazzi holding pics that they accidentally caught while stalking people. Why not share them?
One last thing. I am including a video clip.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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man that was a big yawn it that video, who knew reptiles could open their mouths so wide!
celebs yawning? it could happen . . .