Yawning: Why and What Could It Mean?
Benefits of Yawning
Yawning appears to benefit the body in multiple ways:
- Equalized pressure: Yawning equalizes pressure in your inner ear by opening your Eustachian tube.1
- Social cues: A yawn can offer a clue about how you're feeling. You may consider this a disadvantage as well.
- Stimulating effect: Yawns are thought to stimulate arousal and increase vigilance when you're sleepy.7 This is a result of mechanical stimulation of receptors in your neck called carotid bodies.
