TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Although it often occurs and is easy to recognize, yawning remains an interesting phenomenon. In general, yawning is a natural reflex that involves taking a deep breath, opening the jaw wide, then followed by a quick exhale. Usually, after yawning, a person will feel a relaxed sensation.
Although there are a number of theories that try to explain the reasons behind this behavior, researchers have not found a definite conclusion.
Reported from Medical News Today, when someone yawns, the eardrums can stretch and the eyes may close tightly, causing tears to come out.
For most people, yawning is a common automatic response. Usually, yawning is associated with tiredness and often occurs before going to bed or after waking up. In addition, monotonous or boring activities also often trigger someone to yawn, although this phenomenon can also occur in various other situations.
Causes of Yawning
Quoted from Medical News Today, until now modern research has not found a definite answer regarding the reason we yawn. However, various theories have been proposed and studied, which provide an overview of its possible function.
1. Changes in Physical and Mental Condition
In general, people associate yawning with drowsiness or boredom, although this is not always the case. Although yawning often occurs when someone feels tired, this activity is accompanied by a sudden increase in heart rate. This suggests that yawning may indicate increased alertness, rather than just a sign of fatigue.
Yawning can also be the body's way of adapting to changes in level of consciousness:
As you approach sleep, yawning can indicate that the body is preparing to rest.
When bored, yawning may reflect a shift from an active mental state to a more passive or relaxed state.
A person can also yawn when there is a change in physical condition, such as when moving from high to low air pressure, to adjust the pressure in the ears.
2. Function in the Respiratory System
Yawning may also be related to the body's oxygen needs. This activity allows large amounts of air to enter and triggers an increase in heart rate, which can help supply fresh oxygen to the bloodstream and at the same time remove carbon dioxide.
A 2022 study supports the view that yawning has an important physiological role in respiratory health, as well as having an impact on sleep and muscle coordination. However, researchers admit that the study still has limitations and requires further research.
3. As a Brain Cooler
Another theory states that yawning can function as a brain cooling mechanism. This activity causes the jaw to open wide, increasing blood flow in the face and neck. Deep breathing and increased heart rate accelerate blood circulation and cerebrospinal fluid, which is thought to help lower brain temperature.
4. Means of Social Communication
Some scientists believe that yawning has evolutionary roots as a form of non-verbal communication. Before humans were able to speak, yawning may have been used as a way to convey messages, such as showing boredom, drowsiness, or alertness to others.
It could even be that, in the past, yawning functioned as a way to show alertness to threats or show fangs as a form of self-protection.
5. To "Arouse" Brain Activity
Reported from WebMD, the hypothesis known as the arousal hypothesis states that yawning functions to reactivate the brain. This theory is based on the observation that tiredness and boredom are the main triggers for yawning.
Boredom occurs when the surrounding stimuli are no longer enough to attract attention, which then triggers drowsiness by activating sleep signals in the body. Researchers suspect that in such conditions, the body tries to maintain awareness of the environment.
6. Stretching the Lungs and Surrounding Tissues
Yawning is often accompanied by a wider stretching movement, which helps to flex the muscles and lengthen the joints. In this process, the heart rate can increase. As the lungs expand and the heart rate increases, the body will usually feel fresher and more alert.
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