Why Do People Yawn When They’re Tired?

Yawning helps people feel more awake. When you're tired, your brain sends a message to your body that it's time to rest, and yawning is like a reset button for the whole body. Yawning also makes other people yawn, which is why sometimes an entire classroom will start yawning at once!

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Examples

When you're tired at school, you yawn to feel more awake. Yawning helps your brain cool down so you can focus better.
Your friend starts yawning during lunch, and soon everyone is yawning too. This is an example of contagious yawning.
You’re driving on a long road trip and yawn, it makes the whole car start yawning with you. That’s how social contagion works in real life.

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Categories: Psychology · yawning,sleep,neurology,contagion,behavior