Why Do We Yawn When We’re Bored or Tired?

Yawning is like a stretch for your brain. When you're tired, your brain needs more oxygen and less carbon dioxide, and yawning helps it get that fresh air. Sometimes you yawn because someone else does, like when your friend yawns in class, and soon the whole room starts yawning too!

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Examples

Your friend yawns during lunchtime, and soon you can’t help but yawn too.
You’re sitting in class, and your teacher yawns, suddenly everyone does.
You’re watching a movie late at night, and you start yawning because the characters are so tired.

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Categories: Psychology · yawning,contagious behavior,brain function