Yawning Does Something Unexpected in Your Brain, MRI Scans Reveal

An MRI study found yawning changes cerebrospinal fluid movement around the brain differently from deep breathing.

Researchers at the University of New South Wales scanned 22 healthy adults while they yawned, breathed deeply, suppressed yawns, and breathed normally.

Yawning also increased venous outflow from the brain, suggesting it may have a distinct neurological role beyond simply taking a deeper breath.

The findings could help inform research on brain homeostasis, waste clearance, and neurodegenerative disease.