Yawning and stretching predict brain temperature changes in rats: Support for the thermoregulatory hypothesis

Shoup-Knox, Melanie L.; Gallup, Andrew C.; Gallup, Gordon G.; McNay, Ewan C.

doi:10.3389/fnevo.2010.00108

Cited by 56 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 42 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Nonsocial yawning, also known as spontaneous yawning, is believed to be relatively widespread among vertebrates (Baenninger 1987) and may function in promoting cortical arousal (Baenninger 1997) and/or state change (Provine 1986(Provine , 1996(Provine , 2005 by decreasing brain temperature (Eldakar et al in press;Gallup andGallup 2007, 2008; Gallup and Eldakar 2012;Massen et al 2014;Shoup-Knox et al 2010). Contagious yawning, which can be elicited by sensing or thinking about the action in others (Provine 2005), appears to be a more recently derived behavior that may function in group coordination and vigilance in social species (Gallup and Gallup 2007;Gallup 2011;Miller et al 2012a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental evidence of contagious yawning in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus)

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Experimental evidence of contagious yawning has only been documented in four mammalian species. Here, we report the results from two separate experimental studies designed to investigate the presence of contagious yawning in a social parrot, the budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus). In Study 1, birds were paired in adjacent cages with and without visual barriers, and the temporal association of yawning was assessed between visual conditions. In Study 2, the same birds were exposed to video stimuli of both conspecific yawns and control behavior, and yawning frequency was compared between conditions. Results from both studies demonstrate that yawning is contagious. To date, this is the first experimental evidence of contagious yawning in a non-mammalian species. We propose that future research could use budgerigars to explore questions related to basic forms of empathic processing.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental evidence of contagious yawning in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus)

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…More careful examination of the physicology of yawning reveals that chest rather than deep abdominal breathing is at play, and chest breathing is associated with alertness, arousal, and the flight-or-fight response. The thermoregulation theory of yawning is intriguing, but we have only preclinical evidence that it specifically lowers brain temperature [19] (it does appear to offer a modest and transient decrease in body temperature in humans) and it is unclear why such temperature decreases might be beneficial.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…A thermoregulation hypothesis about yawning speculates that the purpose of yawning is to cool the brain [19]. According to this theory, an increase in brain temperature triggers a yawn and the physiological actions of the yawn, in turn, promote a return to thermal homeostasis [4].…”

Section: Thermoregulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to this theory, an increase in brain temperature triggers a yawn and the physiological actions of the yawn, in turn, promote a return to thermal homeostasis [4]. Cortical temperatures in rats three minutes before and then three minutes after a yawn show a significant increase and decrease in brain temperature [19]. No corresponding studies in humans appear in the literature.…”

Section: Thermoregulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Is yawning a tool for wakefulness or for sleep?

Arbuck¹

2013

OJPsych

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Numerous theories as to why we yawn have been advanced, but yawning appears to be a complex phenomenon that is difficult to study. The physiology of yawning with its sharp chest inhalation, along with its contagious nature, can be explained by an arousal theory, that is, yawning promotes vigilance and alertness within a group that overrides a drive to sleep. Other theories of yawning, such as brain thermoregulation, are not necessarily excluded by the arousal theory but may be the results of yawning rather than its cause.

show abstract

“…First, if yawning serves to cool the brain, then it is predicted that yawns will be triggered by increases in brain temperature and after a yawn, brain temperature will be lower. This prediction has been tested in the laboratory by monitoring changes in the brain temperature of rats [5]. By recording rats' brain temperatures before and after yawns and comparing those temperatures, researchers were able to show that (1) brain temperature increased rapidly before yawns and then (2) decreased shortly after yawns (Figure 2).…”

Section: Hypothesis Testingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Yawns Are Cool

Gallup¹,

Eldakar²

2017

Front. Young Minds

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although we yawn each and every day, most people have little understanding of why we do it. In fact, the function of yawning has remained mysterious for centuries, even among scientists, and this has only changed quite recently. Contrary to what people have believed for a long time, it is now understood that yawns have nothing to do with breathing or the amount of oxygen we are taking in. Instead, new and growing research has revealed that yawns serve as a brain cooling mechanism. This new perspective on yawning as a response to elevated brain temperature has transformed our understanding of this commonly overlooked and misinterpreted behavior. This information might be useful for treating and diagnosing medical conditions that are accompanied by frequent yawning and for monitoring and improving our brain's performance throughout the day. EVERYONE YAWNSYawning can be defined as a powerful opening of the jaw with a deep inhalation of air, followed by an effortless closure of the jaw with exhalation of breath. Yawning is something we all do each and every day, and it is a behavior that we commonly observe in other animals as well. Yawns are easy to identify, as they September 2017 | Volume 5 | Article 52 | 2 kids.frontiersin.org Gallup and EldakarYawning look basically the same in most mammals and birds. Humans begin yawning in the womb before they take their first breath and continue to yawn throughout their lives. Yawns are "contagious"-we yawn when we see others yawn, and even when we read about yawning (consider this a warning). However, we also yawn when we are alone, and after all, someone has to yawn first, even if yawning is contagious. This type of yawning, which is done without seeing or reading about other yawns, is referred to as spontaneous yawning.Spontaneous yawning often occurs at night when we are sleepy, and upon waking in the morning. It is widely recognized that we tend to yawn when we are bored, and thus it is quite common across various cultures around the globe to believe that yawns serve as a signal of sleepiness and disinterest. However, yawning also occurs when people and animals are alert, not just when they are tired or bored, and therefore yawns are more complicated than you might think. Even though there are a lot of popular stories about the purpose of yawns, scientists have only recently discovered yawning's true function. THE MYSTERY OF YAWNINGWhen thinking about why we yawn, people mostly pay attention to the respiratory, or breathing, aspect. When breathing, we inhale to increase our oxygen supply, and we exhale to get rid of excess carbon dioxide. So, the deep breath that accompanies yawning has led many people to believe that the purpose of yawns is to increase oxygen levels. While this explanation seems to make good sense, research conducted 30 years ago firmly rejected this idea. In a clear test of whether yawning was caused by low oxygen levels, Dr. Robert Provine et al. designed an experiment in which they changed the content of the air that was inhaled by participants in t...

show abstract

Yawning and stretching predict brain temperature changes in rats: Support for the thermoregulatory hypothesis

Cited by 56 publications

References 42 publications

Experimental evidence of contagious yawning in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus)

Experimental evidence of contagious yawning in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus)

Is yawning a tool for wakefulness or for sleep?

Yawns Are Cool

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About