Yawning is contagious because our brains like to copy what others do. Imagine you're in a classroom, and your friend yawns, soon, you feel like yawning too. It’s like when you hear someone laugh, and you can’t help but join in. Scientists think this happens because of special brain cells called mirror neurons, which help us understand other people’s feelings and actions.
Examples
- When your friend yawns during lunch, you can't help but yawn too, it's like a contagious laugh that makes everyone around you sleepy.
- You're in class, and suddenly the person sitting next to you yawns. Before long, the whole class is yawning together.
- Your mom yawns on the couch, and soon you find yourself yawning right along with her.
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See also
- What Is the Science Behind Why We Yawn?
- What are neurotransmitter systems?
- Do dreams act as a form of memory replay?
- What are efferent neurons?
- What are postsynaptic neurons?