Health Check: why do we yawn and why is it contagious?
- Written by Mark Schier, Senior Lecturer in Physiology, Swinburne University of Technology
Yawning increases our alertness.from shutterstock.com
Consider the scenario. You’re driving on a long, straight stretch of country highway at about 2pm on a sunny afternoon, and you’re desperately keen to reach your destination. You’re trying to stay alert and attentive, but sleep pressure is building up.
In response you yawn, sit...
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