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A Laboratory Method to Measure Contagious Yawning in Rats
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Mirror neuron activity during contagious yawning--an fMRI study.

Helene Haker1, Wolfram Kawohl, Uwe Herwig

  • 1Department of General and Social Psychiatry, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, Militärstrasse 8, POB 1930, 8021 Zürich, Switzerland. haker@dgsp.uzh.ch

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Summary

Contagious yawning (CY) activates the human mirror neuron system (MNS). This brain activity in the right inferior frontal gyrus suggests a link between observing yawns and empathy, specifically motor empathy.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Social Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

  • Yawning is a contagious phenomenon with limited understanding of its neural underpinnings.
  • The mirror neuron system (MNS) is hypothesized to play a role in contagious yawning (CY).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neural basis of contagious yawning.
  • To test the hypothesis that visual perception of yawning activates the human mirror neuron system (MNS).

Main Methods:

  • Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed to measure brain activity.
  • Participants viewed videos of yawning faces and neutral faces.
  • Brain activity patterns were compared between the two viewing conditions.

Main Results:

  • Unilateral activation was observed in Brodmann's area 9 (BA 9) of the right inferior frontal gyrus, a key region within the MNS.
  • This activation pattern was specific to viewing yawning faces.
  • BA 9 is known to be involved in mentalizing abilities.

Conclusions:

  • Contagious yawning (CY) is associated with the activation of the mirror neuron system (MNS).
  • The findings support the role of the MNS in mediating contagious yawning and suggest a neural basis for motor empathy.
  • This provides evidence for the connection between the MNS, empathy, and higher cognitive functions like mentalizing.