Why are yawns contagious, and can animals catch them too?

Ever wonder why a yawn is so infectious? It turns out that contagious yawning is likely a social behavior tied to empathy and bonding^[1]. Two main theories exist: the nonconscious mimicry hypothesis, where we automatically imitate others to build rapport, and the empathic modeling hypothesis, which suggests we share the feelings of those around us^[4]. Brain regions like the anterior cingulate cortex and the mirror neuron system help us 'catch' these yawns by processing social cues and emotional states^[4].

Animals like chimps, dogs, and even parrots can catch yawns too, which helps synchronize their groups^[4]. This suggests that yawning is a primitive, universal way for social species to stay connected^[6].