WHY WE YAWN
This was a question posed by a radio jock the other day as part of a listeners' questions segment - sort of, ask the expert. Unfortunately they couldn't find an expert to answer this one so Dr Muttars will step up and clarify.
First, consider how we yawn. We open our mouth and start to inhale. The mouth opens wider an wider until it reaches almost breaking point at times, simultaneously drawing breath in deeper and further into the lungs than normal, culminating in a huge draw as the chest cavity expands to its furthest, (similar in fact, to how we'd breath after vigorous exercise - and with the same result).
This whole sequence effects in energizing the blood. The body when tired (and at rest, which is when we yawn), slows down. Therefore the blood flow slows as well, reducing its capacity to deliver oxygen to the muscles and further exacerbating the the feeling of sloth (which effects the yawn in the first place).
The whole inhalation of a great amount of oxygen, with the resulting effect, is...why we yawn.
Any other questions...?
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