MRI scans reveal surprising impact to our brains when we yawn

A study has revealed the interesting impact that yawning has on our brains.

Researchers from the University of New South Wales in Australia used MRI scans on the heads and necks of 22 healthy people, while they did things like yawn and breathe deeply.

The scientists found that yawning in particular produced some interesting results and actually deviated from the findings they expected to discover.

According to Cleveland Clinic, researchers have theories about why we yawn.

One is that we yawn to 'wake up' our brains and that tiredness and boredom can lead to yawning, too.

They explain: "Boredom happens when the main source of stimulation in your environment is no longer able to keep your attention. This triggers drowsiness by stimulating your body’s sleep-signaling system."

Researchers looked at what happens when we yawn (Getty Stock Photo)

Scientists also think it could be an involuntary action to cool down our brains, with the intake of air altering blood flow.

There may also be social factors, too. The 'communication hypothesis' claims that yawning as a result of seeing somebody else yawn could be to relate to others or to communicate feelings of boredom.

But what does all this look like on an MRI scan?

The brain scans had some interesting findings (Getty Stock Photo)

After reviewing the images from the MRI scans, the team found that while they initially believed that yawning and deep breaths would like the same, there was a significant difference.

When yawning, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is sent away from the brain, which doesn't happen during deep breathing.

"The yawn was triggering a movement of the CSF in the opposite direction than during a deep breath," neuroscientist Adam Martinac told New Scientist.

"And we're just sitting there like, whoa, we definitely didn't expect that."

Scientists think yawning could help cool our brains down (Getty Stock Photo)

CSF fluid is a clear liquid that cushions and nourishes the brain and spinal cord.

So, why does yawning differ so much to deep breathing? One theory is that yawning has a bigger role in brain function than first thought.

It also enforces the theory that yawning aids the brain in cooling down.

The study did find some similarities between deep breaths and yawning, discovering that both increase the flow of blood leaving the brain.

Participants also have their own unique yawning patterns, with researchers adding: "This flexibility might account for the variations in inter-participant yawning patterns while still maintaining a recognizable, individual-specific pattern; and implies that the patterns of yawning are not learned but are an innate aspect of neurological programming."

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