Why do people yawn? Boredom? Being tired? Or is there more to it?

There actually is no exact proven reason for yawning. The fore running theories are: -Yawning is a result of the need for more oxygen or less carbon dioxide. This could be a result of a large group of people breathing a lot or from boredom or fatigue when breathing becomes more shallow.

-To increase oxygen in the blood making you more awake and alert. -To cool the brain. -Yawning is an instinctual hand me down from our ancestors once used to show off who had the more intimidating teeth or to coordinate or signal some social behavior.

This is why yawning is contagious supposedly. I'd go with it's likely a combination effect of all of the above, but no one really knows.

Someone years ago told me that a yawn is the body's way of replenishing oxygen in our body.. like perhaps we are doing enough deep breathing, thus the sluggish, tired feeling. It seems that some researchers agree with this theory but, also add that perhaps it is also the body's way of getting rid of carbon dioxide in the body (which also would make you sluggish, sleepy, or tired. ).

I have been wondering about this too. So when I was studying in college, I asked our professor in Anatomy and Physiology who is also a doctor about this. Why do people yawn?

He explained to me that yawning could be a sign of boredom and tiredness or the feeling of being sleepy but there is more to that. When a person is bored or tired there is a tendency for him to shorten his inspiration or intake of air to take in oxygen. You see, when a person inhales, he is taking in oxygen and when he exhales he is giving off carbon dioxide.

When a person has a short breathing the carbon dioxide in his blood goes up and the levels of oxygen goes down. Yawning then is the central nervous system's command so that the body can take in lots of oxygen and give off carbon dioxide to maintain balance or normal levels of gas exchange in the blood. When a person yawns he is taking in a lot of oxygen and get rids of carbon dioxide.

Now, one thing that left me wondering however is that why does a person has a tendency to yawn when a person next to him yawns. It looks like yawning is contagious but I really have no idea at this point.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.