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Related Experiment Videos

Contagious yawning and the brain.

Steven M Platek1, Feroze B Mohamed, Gordon G Gallup

  • 1Department of Psychology, Drexel University, 1505 Race Street, Mail Stop 626, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. platek@drexel.edu

Brain Research. Cognitive Brain Research
|April 12, 2005
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Contagious yawning, triggered by observing others yawn, is linked to self-processing brain regions. This study identifies specific neural activity in the posterior cingulate and precuneus during contagious yawning.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Contagious yawning is a documented phenomenon, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
  • Previous research suggests a link between contagious yawning and self-processing, which may be affected by schizotypal traits.
  • The specific neural substrates involved in contagious yawning have not been identified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neural basis of contagious yawning.
  • To identify brain regions activated when viewing another person yawn.
  • To explore the relationship between contagious yawning and self-processing networks.

Main Methods:

  • Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to monitor brain activity.
  • Participants viewed individuals yawning during the fMRI scan.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis focused on identifying unique neural activation patterns.

    • Main Results:

    • Viewing contagious yawning specifically activated the posterior cingulate and precuneus.
    • These activated areas are known to be involved in self-referential processing, theory of mind, and autobiographical memory.
    • The findings support a connection between contagious yawning and brain regions associated with self-processing.

    Conclusions:

    • Contagious yawning involves neural activity in the posterior cingulate and precuneus.
    • These findings lend further support to the hypothesis that contagious yawning is part of a neural network related to empathy.
    • The study highlights the role of self-processing in the phenomenon of contagious yawning.