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Why is yawning contagious?

Male  31 years old 2018-06-03
I often yawn after others have yawned. My friends say that yawning is contagious. Why is yawning contagious?

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  • BY Ina Barton 2018-06-03
    The statement that yawning is contagious is called "contagious yawning". During "contagious yawning", the supratemporal sulcus of the brain becomes active. This area also plays a role in the perception of eye and mouth activity. As evidenced by the use of smiley faces in emails and text messages on mobile phones, these expressions are the main vehicle for perceiving the emotions of others. Then this kind of collective behavior may have been consolidated and strengthened as a tool for "spreading" the alert status among the groups in the process of evolution.
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