Yawning: Causes, Contagion, Brain Temperature, Empathy

This podcast provides a comprehensive look into yawning, an involuntary reflex experienced by humans and many animals. It explores leading theories on its causes, primarily brain temperature regulation to cool the brain and increasing alertness or waking the body from tiredness or boredom. The phenomenon of contagious yawning is discussed, often linked to empathy and social bonding or synchronized responses to shared environments. It also addresses instances of excessive yawning as a potential sign of sleep deprivation or various underlying neurological conditions and other serious health issues, highlighting when medical consultation is advised.