Prompt Cast
The Science and Mystery of Yawning
TLDR Yawning is a common behavior among humans and animals that can be contagious. It is not necessarily linked to boredom or tiredness, but may be a way to cool down the brain and improve cognitive function. Yawning may also be related to empathy and is less contagious in individuals with autism.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Yawning and stretching in the morning is a common behavior among humans and animals, and it can be contagious.
03:41
Yawning is an involuntary behavior that can be contagious among humans, with about 40 to 50% of adults yawning in response to seeing, hearing, or reading about yawning.
07:14
Yawning is thought to be a part of a change in arousal states and is not necessarily linked to boredom or tiredness, as it can also occur in situations of nervousness or sexual arousal. The physiological theory that yawning is caused by oxygen deprivation or excess carbon dioxide has been debunked through testing.
10:57
Yawning may have developed as a signal to communicate with others, but the most recent theory suggests that yawning is a way to cool down the brain and improve cognitive function, and there is also a link between contagious yawning and empathy.
14:56
Yawning may be less contagious in individuals with autism, possibly due to a lack of empathy and a focus on the mouth rather than the eyes.
18:36
Yawning may increase alertness and awareness, and fetuses from 11 to 20 weeks of development yawn in utero, while contagious yawning is not observed in children until around age four.
22:13
Yawning and orgasms may share a neurobehavioral heritage, possibly rooted in the same behavior that humans used to find pleasurable, but the exact origins of yawning remain a mystery.
26:31
The host shares a personal story about meeting Rodriguez, a musician who played the same song multiple times and gave a private concert in a Detroit courtyard.
29:40
The hosts ask listeners to share their stories about famous singer-songwriters or filmmakers, and provide contact information for listeners to reach out to them.
Categories:
Society & Culture
