In a nutshell
Seeing, or even thinking about, another person yawning can trigger one’s own urge to yawn. Not everyone responds, and the same person does not respond in every situation.
Why does it happen?
Observed actions can influence readiness to perform a corresponding movement. One experimental study linked susceptibility to contagious yawning with the excitability of motor areas of the brain. This does not establish a single definitive mechanism or allow reliable conclusions about an individual’s empathy.
Frequency
Contagious yawning is commonly observed but does not occur in every person or every situation. Age, attention, and experimental conditions affect the measured response.
Frequency is a qualitative description, not your individual probability.
Is it normal?
Neither susceptibility nor its absence is by itself a sign of illness.
Does this happen to you?
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How others answer
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Voluntary responses, not representative. One answer per saved browser key and article is counted. Multiple submissions are possible; people are not verified.
Sources (1)
- A Neural Basis for Contagious Yawning (opens a new tab)
This source supports the description and physiological context of this entry.
Editorial update: . AI-assisted research and editing; not individually reviewed by a physician. How we research
