Is yawning contagious?

Sometimes, the Mythbusters are wrong. They tested this "myth" and busted it. In their studies, yawning wasn't contagious. But we all know it is, in one way or another. I've noticed for me that it depends on how well I know the person...if a stranger yawns, I'm not likely to yawn. But if a friend or family member yawns, I'm very likely to yawn. Maybe it's a measure of how much influence people have on you?

I don't know why it is contagious, but it definitely is. There have been studies done on both humans and chimpanzees apparently, and both species will usually yawn soon after they see another one yawn. I think there are a lot of social behaviors like this. for example, laughing. If I watched the same comedy movie with people or by myself, I will laugh way more when there are others around. Example is stand-up comedy shows on TV. If I'm watching a stand-up on TV at home, I will occasionally laugh out loud, but the audience is constantly laughing, and I think it's because humans are social creatures and have these social behaviors.

I believe it has something to do with cells in the brain. Like an imitating response. Our brains are so complex that we'll (doctors) will never be able to understand it all. I wonder if it is only humans that do this or maybe an animal might also.

I believe so. It never fails that when someone around me yawns, I do as well within minutes.

Oh yes I feel yawning is contagious. Everybody must have experienced it. I have even experienced it while talking over phone:-). I dont know the exact scientic reason for it. Sure would like to know about it.

Yup!!!especially wen in class....i do think it is contagious..

Yes yawning is contagious. It is because when one yawns one normally spreads a sleepy vibrations. So it is always good to cover the mouth when yawning.

I watched an episode of Dr. Know once where he did a study to see if yawning really was contagious. In this episode, he set a group of people in a room with cameras on them and then some people that purposely yawned to see if they could get people to react. And sure enough, they did!!! And some of these people did not even realize that others were yawning! And you would no believe how many times I yawned watching that dang episode! LOL

Yes I agree that it is contageous. The original yawner does it because there isn't enough oxygen going to the brain at the time but why we all yawn after that is anyones guess.

I read something a while back (can't remember from where) that how contagious yawning is depends on the compassion of the person watching. The more compassion a person has for their fellow mankind the more likely they will be to yawn when somebody else does.

Yes... Yawning is definitely contagious. I think it's a psychological response to stimulus (someone else yawning). I'm not exactly why we do that though. =)

I think it is. I once triggered a room full of yawning twice before the speaker had to call for a coffee break.

i'd say yes it is. your around someone yawning, your yawning. a whole room is suddenly in a yawn-fest! it's hillarious.