All Humans and Most Vertebrate Animals Experience Yawning
In their research, Andrew C. Gallup, Ph.D., and his team examined yawning patterns in not only humans but also in rats and parakeets. This comprehensive study conducted at Princeton University revealed that the phenomenon of yawning is not limited to humans alone but is also observed in various vertebrate animals.
Dr. Gallup, a postdoctoral research associate, emphasized that the data collected from these different species consistently supports the notion that yawning serves the purpose of cooling the brain, regardless of whether it occurs in humans or animals.
Does Cold Weather Make Us Yawn More?
According to research conducted by Andrew C. Gallup, Ph.D., our yawning frequency may increase when the air is colder outside. Dr. Gallup’s team conducted a study in Tucson, Arizona, to investigate this hypothesis. They conducted two separate experiments, one during the winter when the temperature was 71.6 degrees Fahrenheit and the other during the summer when it reached 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. The results consistently showed that humans, rats, and parakeets yawned more frequently in colder weather or when exposed to cooler temperatures for an extended period compared to warmer conditions.