• Question: why do we yawn?

    Asked by 873cesf32 to Kylie, Matt, Bex, RobB, Sam on 14 Jun 2016. This question was also asked by CREAM CHEEEESE :), Garish.
    • Photo: Rebecca Thompson

      Rebecca Thompson answered on 14 Jun 2016:

      There are a few different theories, from being a way to get more oxygen to the brain (because of a low oxygen environment, or to wake us up), to keeping the brain cool.

      Yawning is contagious!

    • Photo: Matt Dunn

      Matt Dunn answered on 14 Jun 2016:

      Just like Bex says, part of the reason for yawning is about the brain and oxygen! The brain is a very greedy organ and it needs nearly 30% of the oxygen we take in, sometimes we need to yawn to get more oxygen!

      Yawning also signifies sleep, and it is contagious to make sure we all sleep at the same time. When humans were still early in development, it was important to all sleep and wake up at similar times for hunting and gathering 😀

    • Photo: Kylie Belchamber

      Kylie Belchamber answered on 15 Jun 2016:

      I theory is that we yawn becuase the brain needs to cool down. When we are tired, our brain has been working a lot, and can start to over heat. Yawning can help it to cool down.
      it may also be because we need more oxygen, we don’t really know!

      Yawning is contagious though, I am yawning just writing this!

Comments