Yawning and Brain Function

One theory is that yawning helps keep the brain awake during boring or passive activities.

The movement of the muscles in the face and neck stimulate the carotid artery.

Both yawning and caffeine increase the electrical conductance of the skin.

<p>People are more likely to yawn during passive activities, such as driving, watching television, or listening to a lecture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Yawning may be contagious because it appears to be an empathetic response that helps humans and other mammals communicate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Yawning prompts movements of brain fluid away from a resting network and into a more active state.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Active state = Cooking or talking Resting network = Watching television or listening to a lecture Wakefulness = Driving Drowsiness = Doing exercise</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Increased heart rate = Release of wake-promoting hormones Increased electrical conductance of the skin = Similar to the effects of caffeine Stimulation of carotid artery = Increase in heart rate Movement of brain fluid = More active state</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Contagious yawning = Prompted by seeing or hearing others yawn Empathetic response = Helps humans and other mammals communicate Yawning theory = Helps keep the brain awake during boring activities Physiological response = Similar to the effects of caffeine</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Passive activities = More likely to induce yawning Active activities = Less likely to induce yawning Boring activities = More likely to induce yawning Exciting activities = Less likely to induce yawning</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Movement of muscles in the face and neck = Forces the muscles to move Increase in heart rate = Promotes wakefulness Release of wake-promoting hormones = Increases heart rate Stimulation of carotid artery = Increases heart rate and releases hormones</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Yawning during passive activities = To keep the brain awake during boring activities Yawning during active activities = To promote wakefulness Contagious yawning = An empathetic response that helps communicate Yawning and caffeine = Similar physiological responses</p> Signup and view all the answers