You see someone yawn… and suddenly, you yawn too.
It happens to almost everyone. But why? 🤔
Yawning is a natural reflex, usually linked to tiredness or boredom. 🛌
But when we yawn just from seeing someone else do it, another part of the brain is involved: the social brain!
Contagious yawning is tied to empathy
our ability to feel what others feel.
When we see a yawn, our brain mirrors that action as a form of connection.
This mirroring comes from “mirror neurons.”
They help us mimic others' actions and emotions.
Even chimpanzees, dogs, and other social animals yawn when others yawn. 🐵🐶
People with higher empathy levels are more likely to yawn after seeing someone yawn.
Young children and those with conditions like autism yawn less in response to others.
So next time you catch a yawn, remember:
it’s your brain saying you care. 🥱💙