The Contagious Yawning Phenomenon and Synchronised Behaviour – Londolozi Blog

It is so often that as we sit with a predator during a period of rest, we hope to see one yawning, this can often precede a bout of activity. Contagious yawning is a fascinating ritual and I regularly find myself anticipating at least one while waiting for a pride of lions sleeping the afternoon away or a leopard lying up in a marula tree. Picture that moment as you have waited for lions to rouse from their slumber to catch them displaying their impressive canines, wondering when and what their next move is going to be? And if I start yawning, will the lions start yawning? I now realize this might induce widespread yawning as you read along—don’t worry, no offence taken.

A single cub of the Ximungwe Female’s second litter. Initially rather skittish but is very relaxed now. Birth mark in his left eye.

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Yawning is a reflex involving simultaneous air intake and jaw stretching, often followed by a shorter exhalation. Although it is a common behaviour observed in humans and many animals, the exact purpose is not fully understood. Psychologist Andrew Gullup proposes that yawning may serve to cool the brain and flush it with oxygen heightening alertness. Essentially the act of yawning results in an increase of blood flow to the head, collectively contributing to brain cooling. This phenomenon could be our body’s way of staying alert, particularly in warmer conditions or when feeling fatigued.

The moment you have been waiting to capture – the formidable canines of one of the Ntsevu Males on display during a deep yawn.

While we are all familiar with spontaneous big yawns marking transitions between sleep and wakefulness, contagious yawning as a social behaviour, by nature,  is less understood. Contagious means that witnessing or even thinking about yawning can trigger yawning in others. (So at this point I suspect you may have yawned at least once by now). What has been noted, however, is the link between contagious yawning and social bonding. This brings me back to the pride of lions waking from their afternoon slumber.

It is possible here that while one lioness yawns and is less alert, another lioness, through witnessing this yawn becomes more vigilant to compensate for the yawner’s lowered vigilance. Thus, when contagious yawning spreads in a group, it could boost the overall vigilance of the entire group.

As guides, we are always looking to predict animals’ behaviour by observing cues. With lions and most other mammals, the first sign that they will begin the process of getting active or a bout of activity is a big yawn (although this can also be expected when they are likely to start nodding off). Beyond being a reflex, the neurovascular effects of yawning induce changes in state, initiating behavioural transitions and increased movement. As the yawns spread through the group, it synchronizes and coordinates their actions. For lions, the next move usually includes a good scratch, stretching, and relieving themselves followed by grooming themselves or fellow pride members. This synchronization not only improves social bonds but may boost overall group vigilance, as contagious yawning seems to be a way for individuals to compensate for the lowered vigilance of the initial yawner. Thus, in the wild, contagious yawning becomes a silent language, enhancing group cohesion and potentially offering survival advantages.

Contagious yawning is linked to mirror neurons, found in the brains of animals, including humans. These neurons fire both when an individual performs an action and when they witness someone else doing the same. This neural mirroring is believed to support empathy and social bonding, crucial for the survival of many species.

If contagious yawns are elicited by seeing or hearing another yawn, does this apply to all social species and what does that mean for nonsocial species such as leopards? Some studies suggest that individual differences in empathy may be contributing to the variability in contagious yawns. This includes interspecific studies between social animals including humans, dogs, chimpanzees, and sheep showing a positive relationship between familiarity among the participants and the likelihood of yawning. If we see someone yawn, and that reflexively triggers the same response in us, that could be kind of a basic indicator of empathetic processing. However, not all current studies show that relationship, so while it may explain the variation between social and nonsocial species the full scope of this connection remains a subject of ongoing exploration.

A tender moment is shared between two Ntsevu Males as they greet each other. Often post yawn and as part of their waking ritual, lions will rub heads with each other as a form of affection, enhancing the (already strong) bond between individuals.

In the end, the act of yawning in the wild becomes more than just a reflex, it transforms into a silent language, a means of group coordination, and perhaps, a subtle indicator of empathy. The jury may still be out on certain aspects, but the journey into the enigma of contagious yawning leaves us with a newfound appreciation for the intricate social dynamics interwoven within the realm of wildlife existence.

Have you ever seen a giraffe yawn? Due to the great distance between the head and both heart and lungs, giraffes have special adaptations for breathing and blood circulation which is speculated to avert the need for yawning. Other animals that don’t need to regulate their brain temperature (such as fish) or those that already have an efficient way of cooling their brains, like elephants with their large ears, don’t need to yawn as often.