Mystery behind yawning finally discovered - The Orange Mane

Kaylore · 07-04-2007, 11:14 PM

Saw this on drudgereport - pretty cool.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770

Carry on yawning - it will help keep you awake
By GWYNETH REES - More by this author » Last updated at 00:32am on 4th July 2007

Comments Comments (6)
It can catch you embarrassingly unawares - as Cherie Blair has discovered.

But rather than being a precursor to sleep, scientists say the yawn is actually designed to keep you awake.

A study has found that when you yawn, the inhaled air reduces the temperature of vessels in the nasal cavity, allowing cooled blood to be sent to the brain.

This chills the brain, making it more alert and able to perform better.

Those who breathe in through the nose instead of the mouth are much less likely to yawn, as the vessels in the nasal cavity are already cooled.

To avoid embarrassment and quell a fit of the yawns, you can adopt this method or apply something cold to the forehead, the researchers said.

The scientists believe that 'contagious' yawning - where one immediately mimics another's yawn - is an evolved protective mechanism to make a group more alert.

Their team, from New York State University, spent months watching 44 students, examining why they yawned and what happened when they did.

They found that the physical mechanism of yawning cooled the brain - making it operate more efficiently. Leading researcher Dr Gordon Gallup said: 'According to our hypothesis, rather than promoting sleep, yawning should antagonise sleep.

'We think contagious yawning is triggered by empathic mechanisms which function to maintain group vigilance.'

For the study, volunteers were shown hours of film clips of men and women yawning. The number of 'contagious' yawns they made were recorded.

While watching the films, volunteers were told to breathe in and out in one of four ways - strictly orally, strictly nasally, orally while wearing a nose plug, or just normally.

Fifty per cent of those breathing normally or through their mouths yawned while watching the films. But none of those breathing through their nose was affected.

Those who held a cold pack to their forehead - again cooling the vessels - also avoided yawning, but those who held a warm pack to their forehead were not so lucky.

Researcher Robert Provine, from the University of Maryland in Baltimore, said yawning could mark the body's readiness to become alert. 'Paratroopers report yawning before they jump.

' Yawning signals a transition between the behavioural states of wakefulness and sleepiness, and boredom to alertness.'

Meanwhile, a team at Kyoto University in Japan has discovered that chimpanzees also suffer from contagious yawning.

The scientists believe their findings provide further evidence that apes may possess an advanced level of self-awareness, similar to that found in humans.

dragondawg · 07-04-2007, 11:30 PM

well after you yawn you do feel, more aware and sometimes everything seems louder

atomicbloke · 07-04-2007, 11:33 PM

YAAAWWWWNNN....

Huh? You said something??

Bob's your Information Minister · 07-04-2007, 11:42 PM

I'm very disappointed. I was hoping this was a Herm Edwards-slamming thread.

12th man · 07-04-2007, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob's your Information Minister

I'm very disappointed. I was hoping this was a Herm Edwards-slamming thread.

Bob, why don't you leave this place. Nobody ****ing likes you here.

Bob's your Information Minister · 07-05-2007, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 12th man

Bob, why don't you leave this place. Nobody ****ing likes you here.

I know for a fact that is not true.

12th man · 07-05-2007, 12:08 AM

Keep living in denial Bob. ****ing idiot!

Bob's your Information Minister · 07-05-2007, 12:09 AM

Take some blood pressure medication. This isn't healthy.

Vladimir · 07-05-2007, 03:39 AM

Seriously who does like you here? Besides other KC fans?

Paladin · 07-05-2007, 03:50 AM

Please don't feed the troll, and please don't quote him. He is a POS welcher........

maher_tyler · 07-05-2007, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 12th man

Bob, why don't you leave this place. Nobody ****ing likes you here.

DO NOT QUOTE HIM!!!

BroncoBuff · 07-05-2007, 05:09 AM

Nothing to yawn at tonight!

OrangeShadow · 07-05-2007, 05:56 AM

hmm thats interesting stuff

footstepsfrom#27 · 07-05-2007, 07:09 AM

Somebody got a grant for this...

07-04-2007, 11:14 PM	#1
Kaylore 6-37, Raider fans. Yummy birds and snow! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ceti Alpha V Posts: 41,050 Adopt-a-Bronco: Wesley Duke	Mystery behind yawning finally discovered Saw this on drudgereport - pretty cool. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770 Carry on yawning - it will help keep you awake By GWYNETH REES - More by this author » Last updated at 00:32am on 4th July 2007 Comments Comments (6) It can catch you embarrassingly unawares - as Cherie Blair has discovered. But rather than being a precursor to sleep, scientists say the yawn is actually designed to keep you awake. A study has found that when you yawn, the inhaled air reduces the temperature of vessels in the nasal cavity, allowing cooled blood to be sent to the brain. This chills the brain, making it more alert and able to perform better. Those who breathe in through the nose instead of the mouth are much less likely to yawn, as the vessels in the nasal cavity are already cooled. To avoid embarrassment and quell a fit of the yawns, you can adopt this method or apply something cold to the forehead, the researchers said. The scientists believe that 'contagious' yawning - where one immediately mimics another's yawn - is an evolved protective mechanism to make a group more alert. Their team, from New York State University, spent months watching 44 students, examining why they yawned and what happened when they did. They found that the physical mechanism of yawning cooled the brain - making it operate more efficiently. Leading researcher Dr Gordon Gallup said: 'According to our hypothesis, rather than promoting sleep, yawning should antagonise sleep. 'We think contagious yawning is triggered by empathic mechanisms which function to maintain group vigilance.' For the study, volunteers were shown hours of film clips of men and women yawning. The number of 'contagious' yawns they made were recorded. While watching the films, volunteers were told to breathe in and out in one of four ways - strictly orally, strictly nasally, orally while wearing a nose plug, or just normally. Fifty per cent of those breathing normally or through their mouths yawned while watching the films. But none of those breathing through their nose was affected. Those who held a cold pack to their forehead - again cooling the vessels - also avoided yawning, but those who held a warm pack to their forehead were not so lucky. Researcher Robert Provine, from the University of Maryland in Baltimore, said yawning could mark the body's readiness to become alert. 'Paratroopers report yawning before they jump. ' Yawning signals a transition between the behavioural states of wakefulness and sleepiness, and boredom to alertness.' Meanwhile, a team at Kyoto University in Japan has discovered that chimpanzees also suffer from contagious yawning. The scientists believe their findings provide further evidence that apes may possess an advanced level of self-awareness, similar to that found in humans.

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07-04-2007, 11:30 PM	#2
dragondawg All Pro Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,009	well after you yawn you do feel, more aware and sometimes everything seems louder

07-04-2007, 11:33 PM	#3
atomicbloke Ring of Famer La 12 Boca Juniors Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 2,347 Adopt-a-Bronco: Offensive Line	YAAAWWWWNNN.... Huh? You said something??

07-04-2007, 11:42 PM	#4
Bob's your Information Minister Chiefs > Broncos Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 25,920 Adopt-a-Bronco: CHRIS KUPER!!!	I'm very disappointed. I was hoping this was a Herm Edwards-slamming thread.

07-05-2007, 12:08 AM	#7
12th man Ring of Famer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Trinidad Colorado Posts: 1,634	Keep living in denial Bob. ****ing idiot!

07-05-2007, 12:09 AM	#8
Bob's your Information Minister Chiefs > Broncos Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 25,920 Adopt-a-Bronco: CHRIS KUPER!!!	Take some blood pressure medication. This isn't healthy.

07-05-2007, 03:39 AM	#9
Vladimir #1 Oregon Broncos fan Go Ducks! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Medford, Oregon Posts: 450 Adopt-a-Bronco: Champ Dawkins!!	Seriously who does like you here? Besides other KC fans?

07-05-2007, 03:50 AM	#10
Paladin Ring of Famer Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 9,150	Please don't feed the troll, and please don't quote him. He is a POS welcher........

07-05-2007, 05:09 AM	#12
BroncoBuff *************** Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 25,433 Adopt-a-Bronco: QUANTERUS SMITH	Nothing to yawn at tonight!

07-05-2007, 05:56 AM	#13
OrangeShadow armed and dangerous Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 6,771	hmm thats interesting stuff

07-05-2007, 07:09 AM	#14
footstepsfrom#27 helmet to helmet hitter Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 16,117 Adopt-a-Bronco: Joe Mays	Somebody got a grant for this...