Yawning in company triggers a real 'chain of yawns'! This phenomenon is observed not only in humans; the contagiousness of yawning has previously been recorded in several animals. A recent study involving lions suggests that it helps individuals maintain unity within the group.
Researchers from the University of Pisa observed 19 lions in the wild in South Africa. Over five months of filming, one of the animals yawned 139 times more often when it saw another pride member doing the same. The scientists found that lions do not just mimic each other's yawns; they also copy subsequent behaviors. If one lion yawns and then gets up and leaves, another is almost certain to do the same. The authors of the study believe that this synchronous behavior contributes to greater cohesion within the pride.
To date, scientists cannot precisely explain why yawning is contagious. It is believed that we yawn not only when we are tired but also when we feel a 'high social tension.' However, researchers have also suggested that yawning helps animals maintain bonds within the group.
To test this hypothesis, the scientists decided to observe lions, as the team stated that these animals exhibit 'high social cohesion and synchronous group activity.' It turned out that this process can indeed influence communication within the group. This is the first study of its kind to demonstrate that yawning may be part of a broader synchronized behavior.
