SAEDNEWS: Have you ever noticed how a big, slow yawn just feels... deep? You're not alone—and it turns out that how long an animal yawns might actually say something about how big and powerful their brain is.
According to SAEDNEWS, Most of us associate yawning with being tired or bored. But recent research shows that yawning might have a more important role—especially in animals with bigger brains. According to scientists at the State University of New York, the length of a yawn is closely tied to the size and complexity of the brain. In other words, smarter animals tend to yawn longer.
In a study published in Biology Letters, researchers reviewed 205 yawns across 177 animals from 24 different species. The results? Humans had the longest yawns, lasting an average of nearly 7 seconds. African elephants followed closely behind at around 6 seconds, with giraffes and chimpanzees averaging about 5 seconds.
So what’s going on here?
One idea, supported by this study, is that yawning helps cool the brain—just like a fan cooling a computer. As your brain gets warmer (from thinking hard or even just being awake too long), a deep yawn might help it stay efficient by bringing in cooler air.
Dr. Andrew Gallup, lead researcher on the study, says it’s not body size, but the complexity of the brain’s gray matter and number of neurons, that really influences yawn duration.
Animals like elephants, chimpanzees, and humans have more developed brains—and longer yawns. Meanwhile, species like mice, rats, frogs, and rabbits had the shortest yawns in the study. That lines up well with what we know about their brain size and mental capacity.
Interestingly, while yawning is often linked to sleepiness, it can also be contagious in some animals—especially more social or intelligent ones, like humans and apes. Some researchers believe yawning may have social or empathetic functions too.
Also, yawn length can vary depending on age and mental engagement. Adults yawn longer than babies, and someone deeply focused or stressed might yawn more deeply than someone casually watching TV.
So next time you let out a long, slow yawn, just remember—your brain might be doing some serious work behind the scenes. And while we might never fully understand the mystery of yawning, one thing’s for sure: it’s not just about being sleepy. It’s a sign of how fascinating and powerful the brain really is.
