• Question: Why do we yawn?

    Asked by peach3691 to Colm, Eoin, Joseph, Lauren, Stephen on 13 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: Joseph Roche

      Joseph Roche answered on 13 Nov 2013:

      We’re not certain. It might be to gulp in a lot of oxygen to wake us up but the research in this area is not conclusive.

    • Photo: Eoin O Colgain

      Eoin O Colgain answered on 13 Nov 2013:

      Yawning is contagious.

      Erasmus noted in 1508 that “One man’s yawning makes another yawn”.

    • Photo: Stephen Scully

      Stephen Scully answered on 15 Nov 2013:

      Not sure but I think it is to allow more oxygen into our lungs.

    • Photo: colm bracken

      colm bracken answered on 20 Nov 2013:

      Yes, as the others said it is most likely to get an extra big gulp of air into our lungs. It usually happens when we are tired so getting extra oxygen into our bodies can help wake us up as Oxygen is fuel for our bodies. The most common cause for me to yawn is seeing someone else do it. It’s definitely contagious!

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