The Mystery of the Contagious Yawn

Have you ever yawned just because someone near you did? Scientists have been studying this curious habit for decades, but they still don't fully agree on causes it. One theory suggests that yawning helps the body get rid extra heat by cooling the brain slightly. Another theory suggests that yawning has something do with empathy, since people often copy the expressions of those they feel close to. Research shows that we are far more likely to catch a yawn from a friend from a stranger, which supports this idea. Even dogs catch yawns: many will yawn soon after seeing own owner yawn, a sign of how closely the two species are bonded. Although yawning still looks like a simple reflex, it may reveal something surprising about social behaviour, is an idea many scientists now take seriously. In fact, some studies have found that yawning is contagious that simply reading this sentence might make you yawn. Yawning is almost impossible to stop though you press your lips together tightly.