Why Do We Yawn When Tired And Can It Be Contagious Even Over Video Calls

Yawning is one of the most universal yet mysterious behaviors humans—and many animals—engage in daily. It’s common to yawn when tired, but have you ever caught yourself yawning just because someone else did—even on a video call? This reflex seems simple, but its underlying mechanisms span biology, psychology, and social behavior. Understanding why we yawn when fatigued and how it spreads across digital screens offers insight into brain function, empathy, and human connection.

The Science Behind Yawning When Tired

When fatigue sets in, yawning becomes more frequent. While it may seem like yawning directly causes sleepiness, it's actually the body’s attempt to counteract it. A yawn is a deep inhalation that stretches the lungs, increases heart rate, and delivers a surge of oxygen to the bloodstream. This physiological response helps stimulate alertness when mental performance begins to decline.

Neuroscientists suggest that yawning plays a role in thermoregulation—cooling down the brain. As body temperature rises during prolonged wakefulness, especially in the prefrontal cortex (responsible for attention and decision-making), brain efficiency drops. The deep breath taken during a yawn pulls cooler air through the nasal and oral cavities, increasing blood flow to the skull and promoting heat exchange. In essence, yawning acts as a natural radiator for an overheating brain.

“Yawning isn’t just about oxygen—it’s about optimizing brain temperature and maintaining cognitive readiness.” — Dr. Robert Provine, Neuroscientist and Yawning Researcher

This theory explains why people yawn before public speaking, athletic events, or other high-focus activities—not because they’re bored or tired, but as a preparatory mechanism to sharpen mental clarity.

Contagious Yawning: More Than Just Imitation

What makes yawning truly fascinating is its infectious nature. Seeing, hearing, or even reading about someone yawning can trigger the same response. This phenomenon, known as contagious yawning, doesn’t appear in infancy; children typically don’t exhibit it until around age four or five, coinciding with the development of social cognition.

Studies using functional MRI scans show that observing another person yawn activates the posterior superior temporal sulcus and the mirror neuron system—brain regions involved in understanding others’ intentions and emotions. These neural circuits are foundational to empathy and social bonding. Contagious yawning may therefore be a primitive form of nonverbal communication, reinforcing group cohesion.

Tip: If you're trying to stay alert during a meeting, avoid looking at others who are yawning—your brain might interpret it as a signal to slow down.

Who Is More Likely to \"Catch\" a Yawn?

Not everyone experiences contagious yawning equally. Research indicates that individuals with higher emotional intelligence and stronger empathetic tendencies are more susceptible. Conversely, people on the autism spectrum or those with certain neurological conditions often show reduced contagious yawning, suggesting a link between this reflex and social processing abilities.

A 2017 study published in Personality and Individual Differences found that participants who scored higher on empathy questionnaires were significantly more likely to yawn after watching videos of strangers yawning. This supports the idea that contagious yawning is not merely mimicry but a subconscious reflection of our ability to resonate with others emotionally.

Can You Catch a Yawn Over Video Calls?

With remote work and virtual communication now routine, a new question arises: does yawning remain contagious through digital mediums? The answer, supported by anecdotal evidence and emerging research, is yes.

In controlled experiments, subjects exposed to recorded videos of people yawning exhibited contagious yawning at rates comparable to live interactions. The visual cue—a wide-open mouth, raised cheeks, and closed eyes—is sufficient to activate the mirror neuron system, even without auditory input or physical presence.

Interestingly, audio-only cues (hearing a yawn) also induce contagious responses, though less effectively than visual stimuli. However, when both sight and sound are combined in video calls, the likelihood of \"catching\" a yawn increases significantly. This means that during long Zoom meetings, if one participant yawns, others may follow—not out of boredom, but due to deeply wired social reflexes.

Digital Fatigue and the Yawning Spiral

Video conferencing adds another layer: screen fatigue. Staring at faces on a grid for hours taxes the brain’s social perception systems. We’re constantly interpreting micro-expressions, managing turn-taking, and suppressing natural reactions—all while sitting still. This cognitive load can lead to mental exhaustion, making us more prone to both spontaneous and contagious yawning.

Thus, a yawn during a virtual meeting may start as a biological need (brain cooling), become socially transmitted (mirror neurons firing), and then spiral through the group due to shared fatigue and heightened social awareness.

“We’re not just seeing a yawn—we’re subconsciously responding to a complex social signal embedded in facial movement and context.” — Dr. Elisabetta Palagi, Behavioral Biologist, University of Pisa

Debunking Common Myths About Yawning

Despite decades of research, several misconceptions persist about yawning. Addressing these clarifies what the behavior truly represents.

Myth	Reality
Yawning means you lack oxygen.	No direct correlation. Blood oxygen levels remain stable during yawns; brain cooling is a more supported explanation.
Only humans and dogs experience contagious yawning.	False. Chimpanzees, bonobos, wolves, and even budgerigars show contagious yawning, especially among bonded individuals.
Boredom causes yawning.	Correlation, not causation. Boredom often coincides with low stimulation and rising brain temperature—both triggers for yawning.
You can suppress contagious yawning completely.	Attempts to suppress increase internal tension. The urge often wins, especially in empathetic individuals.

Practical Strategies to Manage Yawning in Professional Settings

Frequent yawning—especially during work meetings—can be misinterpreted as disinterest or laziness. While it’s a natural reflex, there are ways to minimize its occurrence without compromising well-being.

Step-by-Step Guide to Reduce Unwanted Yawning

1. Stay Hydrated: Dehydration thickens blood flow and reduces oxygen delivery, increasing fatigue-related yawning.
2. Optimize Room Temperature: Keep your environment cool (ideally 68–72°F / 20–22°C) to support natural brain cooling.
3. Take Micro-Breaks: Every 30 minutes during screen time, look away from the monitor, stretch, and take deep breaths.
4. Avoid Heavy Meals Before Calls: Digestion diverts blood flow from the brain, raising its temperature and triggering yawns.
5. Use the Camera-Off Strategy Wisely: If you’re feeling drowsy, temporarily turning off your camera can prevent triggering a chain reaction in others.

Tip: Chew gum during long calls. The jaw movement mimics yawning and may satisfy the need for muscle activation without the full yawn.

Mini Case Study: The Virtual Team Meeting Chain Reaction

A marketing team at a tech startup held weekly all-hands meetings via video conference. After several sessions, the manager noticed a recurring pattern: within 20 minutes, nearly half the participants would begin yawning—often in sequence.

To investigate, she reviewed recordings and timed each yawn. The first occurred at 18:32, initiated by a team member visibly rubbing her eyes. Within 90 seconds, three others had yawned. By minute 25, six out of ten had joined in. Notably, the yawns clustered after transitions between speakers—moments of lower engagement.

The team implemented changes: shorter agendas, standing segments, and scheduled hydration reminders. They also shifted meetings from late afternoon to mid-morning. Over the next month, yawning incidents dropped by 70%. The case illustrates how environmental, physiological, and social factors converge in digital spaces—and how small adjustments can disrupt unproductive reflex chains.

FAQ: Your Yawning Questions Answered

Why do I yawn more during online meetings than in-person ones?

Prolonged screen focus strains the visual system and increases cognitive load. Combined with sedentary posture and poor ventilation, this creates ideal conditions for brain overheating and fatigue-induced yawning. Additionally, seeing multiple faces on screen intensifies social monitoring, which can amplify contagious responses.

Is it normal to yawn during exercise?

Yes. Intense physical activity raises core body temperature. Yawning helps regulate brain heat, especially during warm-up or endurance phases. Athletes often yawn before competitions as part of arousal regulation.

Can medical conditions cause excessive yawning?

Yes. Conditions such as sleep disorders (e.g., insomnia, sleep apnea), migraines, epilepsy, and side effects of medications (especially antidepressants) can increase yawning frequency. If yawning interferes with daily life, consult a healthcare provider.

Conclusion: Embrace the Yawn, Understand Its Message

Yawning when tired is far more than a sign of sleepiness—it’s a sophisticated physiological tool for maintaining brain function. And yes, it remains contagious even over video calls, revealing the depth of our social wiring. Rather than suppress it entirely, recognize yawning as feedback: your body signaling a need for rest, cooling, or connection.

By understanding the science behind this reflex, you can make informed choices—adjusting your environment, managing energy levels, and fostering healthier digital interactions. The next time you see a colleague yawn on screen, remember: it’s not rudeness. It’s biology meeting empathy in real time.

💬 Have you noticed contagious yawning during virtual meetings? Share your experiences or strategies in the comments—your insights could help others navigate the challenges of remote work with greater awareness.