Yawning: The Cure For An Overheating Brain
Apparently some bored researchers were sitting around one day, contagiously yawning among themselves, and decided to do a little research on the topic of yawning. And what did they find? There is a social aspect of yawning that is contagious between humans and helps them to stay alert. Â But when looking at parakeets, where yawning isn’t contagious, it became clear that the main function of yawning is simply to cool the brain.
If your head is overheated, there’s a good chance you’ll yawn soon, according to a new study that found the primary purpose of yawning is to control brain temperature.
In fact, yawning may signal anything but boredom. Â So the next time you’re talking to me, and I yawn, it means I’m thinking really hard about whatever you’re saying. Â Or I could just be tired. Â Take your pick.
“Yawning more accurately reflects a mechanism that maintains attention, and therefore should be looked at as a compliment!”
Here’s a link to the entire article:
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/12/15/yawn-brain-head.html