TED-Ed: Why is yawning contagious? - Claudia Aguirre

The video explores the phenomenon of contagious yawning, presenting three main hypotheses: fixed action pattern, non-conscious mimicry, and empathy yawn. The fixed action pattern suggests yawning is a reflex triggered by observing another yawn. Non-conscious mimicry, or the chameleon effect, involves mirror neurons that cause us to imitate others' actions unconsciously. The empathy yawn hypothesis links yawning to our ability to empathize, as studies show yawning is more common among familiar individuals. The video concludes by encouraging viewers to reflect on their yawning experiences.

What new insight or understanding did you gain from this video?