Why Do Humans Yawn When They’re Tired?

Yawns happen when we’re tired because our brain needs more oxygen. Imagine you’ve been sitting in class for a long time and your brain feels sleepy. You yawn to take a big breath, which helps wake your brain up. Sometimes, seeing someone else yawn makes you yawn too, it’s like a signal that says, “Hey, I’m tired!”

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Examples

  1. A student yawns in class because he’s been sitting for too long.
  2. Your friend sees you yawn and starts yawning too.
  3. A baby yawns while lying on the floor, clearly sleepy.

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