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Yawning”: a Physiological Insight

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Yawning”: a Physiological Insight Published online: 2020-07-08 THIEME Review Article 57 The Mystery behind “Yawning”: A Physiological Insight Dipak Kumar Dhar1 Ritik Arora2 1Department of Physiology, Himalayan Institute of Medical Address for correspondence Dipak Kumar Dhar, MD, Department Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Jolly Grant, of Physiology, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India Himalayan University, Jolly Grant, Dehradun 248140, Uttarakhand, 2Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan India (e-mail: [email protected]). University, Jolly Grant, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India J Health Allied Sci NU:2020;10:57–62 Abstract Yawning is a very ubiquitous yet very poorly understood phenomenon. Even though with advancements in science, the scientific community has been able to decode the mechanisms and mysteries behind most of the physiological functions of the body, but we still do not have clear answers to this common activity that all of us experience numerous times on a daily basis. It is the enigma surrounding yawning that makes it all more intriguing. A lot of hypotheses and theories have been proposed since the times of Hippocrates. With more modern neuroimaging methods and bioassays avail- able now, more meticulous inquiry is being increasingly made to elucidate a rational and scientifically sound physiological basis of yawning. A comprehensive and exhaus- Keywords tive study of articles and research work available on the internet on the subject was ► yawning made through various search engines such as Google Scholar, PubMed, etc. This article ► mirror neuron system attempts to provide in a nutshell the available information and knowledge on the sub- ► arousal ject and discuss its plausibility and the future direction of research in this field. Introduction excessive yawning has been associated with certain condi- tions like narcolepsy, uremia, side effects of medications that Yawning is a ubiquitous phenomenon in our daily lives. It is are used to treat depression or anxiety such as selective sero- such a common occurrence that sometimes we are not even tonin reuptake inhibitors or even various forms of enceph- aware of it. Inspite of this till date, “yawning” still remains alopathy. In this review, we will try to explore the various shrouded in a veil of mystery with no clear understanding mechanisms behind this seemingly ubiquitous phenomenon. of as to why or what are the mechanisms behind this activ- The first documented account of yawning dates back to 400 BC ity. Provine, who is considered as the pioneer of yawning where Hippocrates wrote in de flatibus liber (a treatise on research, remarked in the late 1980s that “yawning may wind) that “yawning precedes a fever because the large quan- have the dubious distinction of being the least understood tity of air that has accumulated ascends all at once, lifting and common human behavior.”1 Yawning is a behavior that with the action of a lever, and opening the mouth; in this is observed across an evolutionarily diverse array of animals manner, the air can exit with ease. Like the large quantities from fishes and birds to mammals and from the fetal to the old of steam that escape from cauldrons when water boils, the stages of life. In human beings, yawning has been observed as accumulated air in the body is violently expelled through the early as 12 weeks of fetal life.2 It is an phylogenetically old yet mouth when the body temperature rises.”3 Although as we ontogenically new and stereotyped motor behavior that has shall see subsequently in this article in the absence of any not undergone much changes over the course of evolution. teleological or scientific evidence, this notion was later dis- And any trait that has survived evolution is bound to have credited by the researchers in the late twentieth century, but some significance for survival. It is also important to learn the idea prevailed for a long time. A unanimously acceptable about the different mechanisms behind yawning because mechanism or teleological explanation to the phenomenon of DOI https://doi.org/ Copyright ©2020 Nitte University 10.1055/s-0040-1714196 (Deemed to be University) ISSN 2582-4287. 58 Physiology behind Yawning Dhar, Arora yawning remains to be established, but various theories have Yawning was thought to remove “bad air” from the lungs been proposed by different groups of researchers over the last and increase circulation in the brain.12 It was more of a tele- four decades. The present article tries to provide a narrative ological argument and prevailed for almost two centuries. review of the existing knowledge we have on this subject. However, now it has been refuted by majority of the scien- tific communities. Blood levels of O2 and CO2 show little cor- relation with yawning.13 It was also observed in a study in Functional Anatomy of Yawning the late 1980s that the yawning frequency was not affected Yawning is a stereotyped, reflexive motor activity which con- by air mixtures containing either more than normal CO2 or sists of a deep respiratory effort associated with extension of even pure O2. However, more recent work in animal mod- the neck and wide expansion of the jaw and subsequent con- els lend some support in this hypothesis. Microinjections traction of the tongue. This may be associated with raising of L-glutamate, cyanide, and a nitric oxide-releasing com- of the arms and muscular clenching of the extremities.4 The pound (NOC12) into the medial parvocellular subdivision of respiratory act comprises three distinct phases: (1) prolonged paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) in anes- and deep open-mouth inhalation, (2) a brief acme, and thetized, but spontaneously breathing rats produced a ste- (3) followed by a shorter exhalation.5 It is also often associ- reotypical yawning response. The authors suggested that the ated with lacrimation, either due to pressure on the lacrimal neurons in this area of the hypothalamus could have an oxy- glands or of nervous stimulation or both.6 It is a complex yet gen-sensing mechanism, and diffusible NO could be a para- very highly coordinated motor activity bringing together a crine agent involved in the genesis of yawning response.14 flexion followed by an extension of the neck, a wide dilata- Yawning is assumed to subserve important respiratory func- tion of the laryngopharynx with strong stretching of the dia- tions. Hyperinflation of the lungs as in yawning is an import- phragm and antigravity muscles. And it is highly stereotypical ant stimulus for surfactant synthesis in the lungs.15 This is because no environmental input changes the sequence of especially important for infants and might explain its pres- movements. Therefore, it often appears to be a semi-invol- ence even in fetal life. Yawning also enhances the dynamic untary act, which once initiated cannot be suppressed, but lung compliance of lungs, that is, greater change in volume its manifestations can be modified.7 The stereotypical nature is possible per unit change of transpulmonary pressure. of the yawn is consistent with the physiological property of Additionally, it also improves the venous return to the heart. reflexes being stereotypical. One of the indispensable con- cepts in neurophysiology is the notion of “moto-programs” Arousal and Yawning which are sequences or algorithms fundamental to genesis The conditions during which yawning has been commonly of any motor activity. These have been attributed to certain observed are immediately before sleep, awakening from fully “central pattern generators” in the central nervous system complete sleep, weariness, lack of stimulation, boredom, (CNS). It is now known that humans have certain built-in or any monotonous task. Medical conditions, such as mul- motor programs, which means for that particular activity, the tiple brainstem ischemic strokes, frontal lobe tumors, etc., sequence is fixed from beginning to end once it is started.8 could also cause excessive yawning. Increased frequency of The nature and as well as the duration of a yawn is almost yawning has also been observed in people intoxicated by consistent with a mean of just under 6 seconds.1,9 Psilocybin mushrooms.6 All these scenarios described above have one common feature: lowered state of critical con- sciousness which implies a reduced state of normal, active Theories of Yawning awareness of being related to environment. It was sug- Various theories have been put forward behind yawning. gested in the late 1980s that yawning actually is a complex Some try to answer the purpose while others attempt to arousal defense reflex from its close temporal occurrence explain the mechanisms behind it. And both homeostatic with activities causing boredom or loss of interest, fatigue, roles and communicative role have been suggested. They and sleep. The center of this reflex was proposed to be the range from respiratory, arousal, and thermoregulatory to reticular formation of the brainstem,9 which we now know its role as a component of action repertoire of advanced is the seat of the consciousness and also houses the vari- empathic and social skills.10 ous neural circuits implicated in sleep-wake states.8,16 Even in infants and children (aged 6–34 months), the most com- Respiration and Yawning mon context of yawns as recorded by their mothers was on Because the act of yawn itself consists of a prominent respi- awakening after morning or afternoon naps, suggesting its ratory pattern, the earliest reason proposed behind it was close temporal association with sleep and wakefulness.17 This hypoxia. It has been held commonly that yawning is trig- proposition was later supported by observations in studies gered when blood or brain oxygenation is insufficient, on human subjects where physiological variables associated either due to hypoxia or due to hypercapnia. In fact as early with aroused state like an increased heart rate, increased as 1755, a noted author on medicine in the eighteenth skin conductance and α waves on electroencephalogram century, Johan de Gorter, described in one of his books were studied in relation to yawning.
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