Why do we yawn? Investigating the connection between CO2 levels and yawning

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the relationship between yawning and CO2 levels in the brain. Participants explore the hypothesis that yawning may alleviate feelings of panic associated with high CO2 buildup. One user describes a personal experience of holding their breath and yawning, noting a lack of panic despite extended breath-holding. This suggests that yawning may serve a physiological function related to CO2 regulation and relaxation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of respiratory physiology
  • Basic knowledge of carbon dioxide's role in the human body
  • Familiarity with the concept of yawning as a physiological response
  • Awareness of the autonomic nervous system's functions
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the physiological mechanisms of yawning
  • Explore studies on CO2 levels and their effects on brain function
  • Investigate the role of the autonomic nervous system in respiratory responses
  • Examine the psychological aspects of breath-holding and panic responses
USEFUL FOR

Researchers in physiology, psychologists studying respiratory responses, and anyone interested in the biological functions of yawning and its connection to CO2 levels.

GreatBigBore
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Ok, so I'm sitting here holding my breath--think for a minute and you'll guess why--and I'm just about at that point where I can't hold it any longer. I'm just about to exhale, but then I have to yawn. Usually, when I'm just about to exhale, I get just a tiny little panic feeling, which I assume is due to the buildup of CO2 in my brain. But just now when I yawned, I held my breath for a good 5-7 seconds longer (due to the yawn itself), and felt no panicky feeling at all.

I've heard a hypothesis or two about how yawns have something to do with CO2 levels in the brain. I wonder if this lack of panic feeling in spite of going several seconds longer than seemed possible is a clue at all.

If it's nonsense, then just have a laugh at it. I've lost count of how many times I've held my breath tonight.
 
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I just yawned and didn't experience any breath holding. It's more like a slow, extremely deep inhalation/exhalation, with profound, relaxed stretching of the throat and mouth muscles.
 
Right. I was holding my breath already. When I normally yawn and I'm not altered, then yeah, it's like you've described. Just wondering if it's a clue at all as to why we yawn.
 

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