Y is for Yawning

Yawning (also known as oscitation) is something that occurs before and after sleep, as well as during tedious activities. It is said to come from "primitive reflexes in the primary motor cortex — an area of the brain responsible for motor function," according to a press release from the University of Nottingham.

It can be contagious and can be triggered by seeing other people yawning. This reaction has also been observed in chimpanzees, dogs, cats, birds, and reptiles, amongst other species.

Approximately 20 psychological theories for yawning have been put forward by scholars, but experts are still debating. One popular theory is that when the level of oxygen in the body depletes, we yawn to get the necessary influx of oxygen. A new study released in 2014 has now suggested that yawning works in order to cool down our brains and help us think a little clearer.

On average, a person yawns 240,000 times in his or her lifetime.