how is it that when someone yawns someone nearby or even across the room that witnesses it visually also yawns
104471
You know, there have been many studies done on this subject and the consensus is...they really don't know!\nSometimes, if you simply say the word "yawn"..it makes you yawn.\nPower of suggestion is the most viable answer I believe.
664075
Researchers aren't really sure. They seem to have pinpointed the initiation to a particular part of the brain, and speculate that it's a synchronized social reflex that may serve an evolutionary goal of greater tribal cohesiveness and mutual protection. See the referenced web page. I've noticed that it's not just other people yawning, but even reading the word 'yawn' that does it for me, even if I'm well oxygenated and wide awake!
1057558
It is possible that yawns are contagious because at one time in evolutionary history, the yawn served to coordinate the social behavior of a group of animals. When one member of the group yawned to signal an event, all the other members of the group also yawned. Yawns may still be contagious these days because of a leftover response (a "vestigial" response) that is not used anymore. None of this has been proven true and yawns are still one of the mysteries of the mind.\n\nAlso,\n\nThe reason yawns are contagious? Power of suggestion perhaps. If you're out late with your friends after school, you're probably tired. You're probably on the verge of a yawn, too, and seeing one person do it is enough to drive everyone to yawns.
1140109
It makes you feel tired when you see the other person doing it.
486726
its not very difficult. Sometimes if i jaz feel like it i sneeze with my mouth close. Then all of the things inside my nose flies away. And also i can sneeze with my eyes open. \nIt is more dificult to not yawn if you see someone yawn in front of you.
361765
Not really sure---but just seeing the word yawn made me yawn--Thanks alot---yawns again---wonders about yawns--yawns again-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yawn Why are yawns contagious? Getting kind of tired-- http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_309.html-- Why do we yawn? http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/yawning.html A yawn reasearcher? http://psychology.drexel.edu/ECNL/  Huh? Sorry must be groggy--Pictures of animals yawning --Oh No-- yawning out of control-- http://www.animalyawns.com/ all this reading about yawning ---YAWNS deeply--- I'm getting so sleepy ---  It's hard to keep my eyes open--z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z
55666
I saw something on this before..it said that if you yawn when other people yawn..your a sympathetic person.  In my observing this..I've noticed it's kind of true..particularly..there is a guy that I work with who NEVER yawns when he is around other people who are yawning.  He is not a very sympathetic person at all about anything..kind of rude..or short..I don't know..not very people friendly.  However my friend and I at work are very sympathetic..and we always yawn at the other's yawn! :)
450975
the act of yawning squeezes the tear glands
346467
Yawns are not contagious, its an urban legend. Watch 'Mythbusters' on the Discovery channel.
365189
The popular theory is that yawning is for oxygen boosting/carbon dioxine expulsion. Hwoever, this is contended, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yawning for some other theories.\nThe fact that it is contagious is far more interesting though.\nThere were theories that it was related to the environment being the same, or even an exchange of chemicals. However, there is more debate now, as if you have a video conversation with someone on a webcam: same thing happens. You could be on different sides of the world, at different times of day, and you're still both yawning.\nAnother theory is that it's a subconscious psychological effect. You see someone yawning, and your subconscious thinks that it would rather like to do that, Interestingly, I have yawned quite a lot whilst I've been writing this, and I'm not tired at all.\nThere's a similar question to yours here http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_309.html\nBut the truth is, no-one really knows the answer.
213862
Why we yawn when we see others yawning has baffled scientists for ages and a number of suggestions have been put forward to explain this phenomenon. What we do know is that yawning is an involuntary action- our brain does it without us thinking about it, even very young babies yawn showing that it's a built in action (Chimps do it too by the way). Just thinking about yawning can trigger the bit of the brain that causes a yawn.  http://www.ratlab.co.uk/yawn.htm\n\nMore theories can be found at the links below:
412939
i think they are.. whenever i see anyone yawning i HAVE to yawn
330313
This is science.\n\nWhen you yawn, it is because your brain lacks oxygen and need to get more oxygen. This is done by yawning where you inhale deeply to take in more air and oxygen. \n\nWhat you mentioned is especially true, especially in crowded places or enclosed palces.\n\nWhen you yawn, you take in large amount of air from the surrounding, depriving the other of the oxygen. Thus, the others will need more oxygen too. So, they yawn to take in more air. And when they yawn, they take in even more air from the surrounding and the others will have to yawn to get sufficient oxygen.\n\nOne yawn will spark off a chain reaction of yawning.\n\nUnderstand now?
441827
See the article in the site below.  It tells you why we yawn and gives evidence to support the theory that yawning is "contagious" because "as social creatures we are highly inclined to copy one another."\n\nThe article starts by saying that a good trick to see if anyone is checking you out is to yawn and see if anyone else yawns back!  \n\nHope this helps...
288559
A yawn is a reflex of deep inhalation and exhalation associated with being tired, with a need to sleep, or from boredom. \n\nThe yawn reflex is often described as contagious: if one person yawns, this will cause another person to "sympathetically" yawn. The reasons for this are unclear; however, recent research suggests that yawning might be a herd instinct.\n\nHerd instinct\n------------\nThe so-called herding instinct is a social tendency in humans to identify with and model many behaviors and beliefs after a larger group of individuals with whom they identify.\n\n\nOther theories suggest that the yawn serves to synchronize mood behavior among gregarious animals, similar to the howling of the wolf pack during a full moon. It signals tiredness to other members of the group in order to synchronize sleeping patterns and periods of activity. It can serve as a warning in displaying large, canine teeth, thus proclaiming, "don't attack while I am sleeping...
1078201
This question has taken me a super long time to answer -- I've spent much of the time yawning every time I try to research! It's true! Are you yawning yet? Humans yawn when they see someone else yawn, read about yawning, think about yawning, or even just hear yawning. I can barely keep my hands on the keyboard because once I yawn, I tend to stretch and then rub my face.\n\nThe answer is, no one really knows why yawning is "contagious". Or why we yawn at all. One popular explanation is that yawning allows you to get rid of too much carbon dioxide in your system and increase your oxygen supply. This was disproved by Dr. Robert Provine and his research team in 1987.\n\nNow scientists are wondering if yawning is from our deep past -- part of our evolutionary history. Did a yawn signal to the group that it was time for everyone to retire to the trees and snooze? Did a yawn signal that we were all feeling cozy and warm about each other? Did a yawn signal something more like, "Gee, I know how you're feeling, I feel that way too."\n\nBetween 40 and 60 percent of the population seems to find yawning contagious. Researchers at the State University of New York conducted a series of yawning experiments. They determined that being self-aware (the ability to recognize oneself) and having the ability to see things from someone else's viewpoint means a person is more likely to find yawning contagious.\n\nNow you're thinking, what humans are not self-aware? Schizophrenics sometimes have trouble with self-recognition so they will not find yawning contagious. Babies won't yawn contagiously until they're more than a year old.\n\nSome birds and reptiles yawn. Most mammals yawn. My dog yawns, but that doesn't make me yawn -- I obviously cannot put myself in her paw prints. (But who can empathize with a creature that sleeps all day, then when she does bother to get up and join you on a walk, suddenly bolts after a squirrel and nearly tears your arm out of your socket? I have no idea what's going on in that dog's mind.)\n\nChimpanzees yawn too, and in fact, if they watch other chimps yawn, they're more likely to yawn too.\n\nSo, I guess the real answer is: who knows?
33139
we yawn to equalise the pressure difference between our ears and the outside. when u yawn you equalise the pressure in your ears but there is a disbalance created in the atmosphere and hence others around you also start yawning....!!!!