Why is yawning contagious?
When you see, hear or even read about someone yawning, your brain automatically copies what it notices. That copying system is linked to how we tune in to other people, which is why yawns spread most easily between people who are close.
Someone near you yawns
It starts with a cue. Seeing a yawn is the strongest trigger, but hearing one, reading about one or just thinking about yawning can be enough. You may be feeling it right now.
Share this stepYour brain copies what it sees
Areas in your brain that plan movements light up when you watch someone else move. A yawn is such a strong, simple action that the urge to copy it can slip through before you notice.
Share this stepThe yawn jumps across
About half of adults catch a yawn within a few minutes of seeing one. Studies suggest it spreads more easily between family and friends than between strangers, though researchers still debate how strong that effect is.
Share this stepYawns spread through your social brain.
A yawncopying brainanother yawn
Why we yawn at all is still debated. A leading idea is that the deep breath and jaw stretch help cool the brain. The old idea that yawning brings in more oxygen has not held up in experiments.
Common follow-up questions
Why do we yawn at all?
Nobody knows for sure. A leading theory is that yawning helps cool the brain, since people yawn more when the brain is warm. Tiredness and boredom make it more likely too.
Can reading about yawning make me yawn?
Yes. Just reading or thinking about yawns is enough for many people. If you yawned while reading this page, you’re not alone.
Can animals catch yawns?
Some can. Chimpanzees catch yawns from each other, and studies suggest dogs sometimes yawn after their owners do.
Does catching yawns mean you have more empathy?
It’s often claimed, but the evidence is mixed. Age, tiredness and how much attention you pay to faces seem to matter at least as much.
