Experiments to See If Yawning Is Contagious

Yawning is one of the many things all humans, and animals for that matter, have in common. It's a function of the body that has perplexed scientists for years. Some believe yawning is a sign of boredom or tiredness and until recently, experts agreed the primary function of yawning was to replinish oxygen to the blood stream. The subject is so puzzling and becomes even more confusing when the question of yawning being contagious comes into play.

Theory Disproving Contagious Yawning

• The notion of yawns being contagious is an idea some would discount. Gordon Gallup, University at Albany psychology professor, suggests yawing is a way for people to cool off their brains -- not the result of witnessing someone else do it. Gallup said, brains are like computers, they only operate efficiently when they're cool; therefore, yawning serves as a cooling mechanism that regulates the temperature of the brain. "Many things like being tired, actually make the brain hot, and yawning can allievate the heat," says Gallup.

Experiement 1

• One theory suggests yawns work like air conditioners for the brain.

  Professor Gordon Gallup tested his theory with a group of students. They were asked to watch a film of other people yawning. Some of the students held a cold compress to their heads and others held a warm compress in the same way. The cold compress participants were also asked to breath in and out through their nose -- a natural brain coolant. These students did not yawn at all, but the warm compress students were far more likely to yawn.

Theory Approving Contagious Yawning

• Not everyone can catch a contagious yawn

  Other researchers believe yawning is contagious and a sign of empathy, as well as a form of social bonding. Research suggests contagious yawning starts around age 4 and continues throughout life, but not everyone is susceptible to it. Only about 40 to 60 percent of people are likely to catch a contagious yawn. The exact reason for contagious yawning is still unknown, although some scientists think a person's mental state plays a major role.

Experiment 2

• Studies show that people who are self-aware are more likely to catch a contagious yawn.

  Dr. Steven Platek and a team of researchers, from the Department of Psychology at the State University of New York, tested a group of students to prove contagious yawning does occur among individuals who are self-aware and have the ability to see things from someone else's point of view. First, Dr. Platek asked the participants to take a personality questionnaire -- this test identified students' social behaviors and perceptions. Then, they watched a series of videos of people yawning, laughing, or showing no behavior. The yawning videos caused students to yawn 41 percent of the time.