The power of suggestion

If you witnessed me mouth agape, arms outstretched, belting out an extended yawn commensurate with a late night, would you follow suit? Is yawning contagious? Laura assigned the topic after I initiated the common chain reaction.

Here's what I discovered. Researchers at the State University of New York found 40 to 60 percent of the population deem yawning contagious. They determined that self-awareness and empathy make a person more drawn to yawn after witnessing the involuntary action. Laura has been my dear friend for longer than either of us care to admit. Is that why she yawned? Maybe. Maybe not.

Apparently yawning is quite the conundrum. Why we yawn is a mystery. The dictionary claims the cause is fatigue, drowsiness, or boredom, but scientists are discovering there is more than meets the eye. They know yawning draws more oxygen into the blood, but the need for air is not likely the cause. Otherwise, you'd tell a runner out for a vigorous jog to lie down for a nap.

Scientists wonder if yawning is part of our evolutionary history. It may have been a method of signaling the time for sleep or a change activity. It may have been a way of relating an ease of being together. The contagious nature may be an unconscious herding behavior similar to a flock of birds following a lone bird.

Maybe you're yawning now since I've bored with you extraneous details. Maybe it's just the power of suggestion. There are no definitive conclusions on a yawn's infectious quality, but merely typing or reading the word can spawn a yawn. How does this grab you?

Comments

[LabRat]

Good to see you back in form, Stacey!

No, no -- not referring to the photo (and yes - the orangutan did make me yawn!).

I was referring to the great recent string of random blogs about things we all see and experience but you take the time to highlight and ponder!

Carry on!

[bleeding espresso]

I'm yawning...but it's certainly not out of boredom. I'm loving your blog :)