Book 2, Question 5 · Video
Why Do We Yawn When Someone Else Yawns?
Whoa, did you just want to yawn? Yawns can be catching! Seeing a yawn can start your own yawn, even if you are not sleepy. Yawns can spread through a whole group of people.
Read the full answer →What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hey there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do we yawn when someone else yawns?
The Big Idea
Whoa, did you just want to yawn? Yawns can be catching! Seeing a yawn can start your own yawn, even if you are not sleepy. Let's find out why your brain copies other people's yawns. Get ready, because you might yawn a few times before this video ends!
You See a Yawn
Step one: you see a yawn. Maybe a friend stretches their mouth wide and yawns, or you see it on a screen. It does not matter if you are sleepy yourself. Your eyes spot it, and your brain pays close attention to that big open mouth.
Brain Copies Faces
Step two: the brain copies faces. Human brains are great at noticing and copying what other people do, especially their faces. Scientists think this copying helps people feel connected, and tune in to how the people around them are feeling.
You Yawn Too
Step three: your jaw gets the signal, and you yawn too! Your brain sends the message to your jaw and breathing muscles. And just like that, your own mouth opens wide, and you take a big, deep breath.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look at the copy chain. First, one kid yawns. That is the spark that starts everything. Then comes the copy step, where the brain matches what it sees and gets ready to do the same thing. And finally, you yawn too! One yawn passes to the next, like a little chain.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Yawns can spread through a whole group of people. Contagious yawning shows up more as kids get older. Some animals, like chimpanzees and dogs, may catch yawns too. Scientists are still studying exactly why it happens.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Watch a stuffed animal yawn, or a picture of one. Do you feel a yawn coming? Probably not! Now watch a real person yawn, and see what happens. Keep a little tally and share your results with your family. It is a fun experiment to try at the dinner table.
Outro
Yawns are a little copycat superpower of the brain. Now you know why! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!