The thermoregulatory theory of yawning: what we know from over five years of research

Frontiers in Neuroscience

Andrew C Gallup¹  Omar Tonsi Eldakar² 

[1] Princeton University;University of Arizona;

关键词: Sleep;    Yawning;    thermoregulation;    brain cooling;    contagious yawning;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fnins.2012.00188

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Over the past five years numerous reports have confirmed and replicated the specific brain cooling and thermal window predictions derived from the thermoregulatory theory of yawning, and no study has found evidence contrary to these findings. Here we review the comparative research supporting this model of yawning among homeotherms, while highlighting a recent report showing how the expression of contagious yawning in humans is altered by seasonal climate variation. The fact that yawning is constrained to a thermal window of ambient temperature provides unique and compelling support in favor of this theory. Heretofore, no existing alternative hypothesis of yawning can explain these results, which have important implications for understanding the potential functional role of this behavior, both physiologically and socially, in humans and other animals. In discussion we stress the broader applications of this work in clinical settings, and counter the various criticisms of this theory.

【 授权许可】

Unknown