Stifle no more!
ILLUSTRATION: IRINA PERJU
Fatigue, boredom, insolence. Yawning in public is generally not well received, especially if it’s particularly noisy (whether unintentional or otherwise). Yet there are many benefits to be had from the act. Several studies, including one conducted in 2013 and led by behavioural biologists Jorg Massen and Andrew Gallup, indicate that its purpose is to cool the brain which, in turn, aids vigilance in stressful or dangerous situations. Research also suggests that its tendency to be contagious is perhaps an indication of the need for a group to become more alert in times of peril, as the brain operates best when at optimal temperature.