Abstract
Previous cross-cultural research on humans has shown that self-reported contagious yawning frequency varies between distinct seasons and climate conditions. However, it remains possible that differences in yawning across seasons may be a result of physiological circadian changes across the year. In attempt to address this question, here we discuss the results of a study investigating the variation in the frequency of self-reported contagious yawning within a single season in one geographic location. A total of 142 pedestrians were recruited outdoors during an 18-day period over the summer in an equatorial monsoon climate in southern Florida, USA. Consistent with the thermoregulatory theory of yawning, results showed that self-reported contagious yawning frequency varied only across temperature gradients. This was true after statistically controlling for variables relative humidity, time of day, time spent outside, testing day, age of participant and hours of sleep the night before. These findings provide further evidence suggesting a brain cooling function to yawning.
Faculty Sponsors
Omar Tonsi Eldakar, Ph.D.
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-10-2015 1:00 PM
End Date
4-10-2015 5:30 PM
Temperature Dependent Variation in Self-Reported Contagious Yawning within a Single Season
Alvin Sherman Library
Previous cross-cultural research on humans has shown that self-reported contagious yawning frequency varies between distinct seasons and climate conditions. However, it remains possible that differences in yawning across seasons may be a result of physiological circadian changes across the year. In attempt to address this question, here we discuss the results of a study investigating the variation in the frequency of self-reported contagious yawning within a single season in one geographic location. A total of 142 pedestrians were recruited outdoors during an 18-day period over the summer in an equatorial monsoon climate in southern Florida, USA. Consistent with the thermoregulatory theory of yawning, results showed that self-reported contagious yawning frequency varied only across temperature gradients. This was true after statistically controlling for variables relative humidity, time of day, time spent outside, testing day, age of participant and hours of sleep the night before. These findings provide further evidence suggesting a brain cooling function to yawning.
