Why do We Yawn?

Outline I. Introduction a. Misconception b. Analogy II. The First Step III. The Second Step IV. The Final Step V. Conclusion

Lee 3 Table of Contents The First Step The Second Step The Final Step So What? Page 3 Page 4 Page 4 Page 4

Lee 4 Joseph Lee Ms. Murphy English 8 8 January 2013

Yawning and How It Happens The act of yawning is usually misunderstood as an action caused by weariness or that we are lacking oxygen in our bodies so yawning helps us take in enough oxygen. However, studies show that yawning isnt caused by lack of oxygen, nor is it caused by drowsiness. Although we do not know the definite reason of why we yawn, we can assume that the likeliest reason is that yawning controls the cooling of our brains. Our brains, like computers, can only operate correctly at specific temperatures and yawning helps regulate that temperature. If our brains get too hot, which can be caused by exhaustion, we need to inhale the cooler air from our surroundings. The major steps of yawning include the reticular formation causing the yawn to happen, we are allowing our lungs to expand, causing air to pass through, and we are sending the air out of our lungs. The First Step The first step in the yawning process is the reticular formation causing the yawn to happen. The reticular formation, which is located in the central core of the brainstem, works as a control center that coordinates the brain. When the overheating in our brains occurs, the reticular formation sends signals to our cerebral cortex. This part of the brain takes in the information of the problem, which is the overheating in this case, and does what is necessary to fix that problem. This is where the yawning process starts.
student 6/10/13 10:26 PM Comment: Change to: Which in this case, is the overheating student 6/10/13 10:20 PM Deleted: commonly student 6/10/13 10:23 PM Deleted: tiredness student 6/10/13 10:24 PM Comment: What is the Scientific Notation (in the Periodic Table) for the Element of Oxygen? Please Specify. And, it needs to be capitalized. student 6/10/13 10:23 PM Comment: Is likeliest a word? Please check with your English Teacher. student 6/10/13 10:24 PM Comment: Is that a word? student 6/10/13 10:25 PM Comment: Lets use a thesaurus for that one.

Lee 5 The Second Step The second step in the yawning process is allowing our lungs to expand. In order for the yawning to occur, we need to inhale deeply. This action is involuntarily caused by the cerebral cortex doing what is necessary to stop the overheating of the brain. When we inhale deeply, our diaphragm contracts, decreasing in size, and filling our lungs with air. This is the second step of the yawning process. The Final Step The final step in the yawning process is sending the air out our lungs. After we inhale, we cause our diaphragms to contract and fill our lungs with air. When we exhale, our diaphragm relaxes, causing the air contained in our lungs when we inhale to be released out our mouth. This is the final step of the yawning process. So What? In conclusion, the yawning process involves the reticular formation initiating the yawn, allowing the lungs to expand, and send air out of our lungs. Our reticular formation works to send information to our cerebral cortex, having it take the necessary action to make the person yawn. When we yawn, we inhale the air, causing the lungs to fill up. After the lungs fill up with air, the air is squeezed out as the diaphragm relaxes. Because of yawning, we are able to keep our brains from suffering from high brain temperatures. Now after reading this, have you yawned yet?

Lee 6 Bibliography Edmondson, R. Did You Know?: Why Do We Yawn? Did You Know? Did You Dec. 2005. Web. 11 Jan. 2013. Know?, 16