Yawning

Alóe, Flávio

doi:10.1590/S0004-282X1994000200023

Abstracts

The ubiquitousness of normal yawning and the existence of abnormal yawning warrant an understanding of this reflex. Its mechanisms and functional role are not entirely known. A review of the literature reveals that yawning is a brain stem arousal reflex with both peripheral and central loops subserving reversal of brain hypoxia or hypoxemia. Behaviorally, yawning is a semi-involuntary act that occurs also because of loss of interest in the surroundings and it is not necessarily associated with fatigue. Socio-environmental factors can influence the emergence of yawning. Dopaminergic, acetylcholinergic, ACTHergic and oxytocinergic systems are involved in the generation and modulation of yawning in animal experimentation.

yawning; fatigue; drowsiness; brain hypoxia; dopamine; acetylcholine; ACTH; oxytocin

A ubiquidade do bocejo normal e a existência de bocejo de caráter anormal justificam o conhecimento deste reflexo. Muito pouco se sabe a respeito dos mecanismos fisiológicos e papel funcional dos bocejos. Uma revisão da literatura mostra que o bocejo é um reflexo de alerta cerebral com alças centrais e periféricas, cujo objetivo é reverter hipoxia ou hipoxemia cerebral. Comportamentalmente, bocejar é ato semi-involuntário que ocorre também por causa de perda cognitiva de interesse pelo meio ambiente e não está necessariamante associado com sensação de fadiga. Fatores sócio-ambientais podem influenciar o aparecimento de bocejos. Os sistemas neuronais dopaminérgico, colinérgico, ACTH e oxitocinérgico estão envolvidos na geração e modulação do bocejo em animais de experimentação.

bocejo; fadiga; hipoxia; sonolência; dopamina; acetilcolina; ACTH; oxitocina

Yawning

Bocejo

Flávio Alóe

Sleep-Wake Disordes Center, Department of Neurology of the University of São Paulo Medical School

SUMMARY

The ubiquitousness of normal yawning and the existence of abnormal yawning warrant an understanding of this reflex. Its mechanisms and functional role are not entirely known. A review of the literature reveals that yawning is a brain stem arousal reflex with both peripheral and central loops subserving reversal of brain hypoxia or hypoxemia. Behaviorally, yawning is a semi-involuntary act that occurs also because of loss of interest in the surroundings and it is not necessarily associated with fatigue. Socio-environmental factors can influence the emergence of yawning. Dopaminergic, acetylcholinergic, ACTHergic and oxytocinergic systems are involved in the generation and modulation of yawning in animal experimentation.

Key words: yawning, fatigue, drowsiness, brain hypoxia, dopamine, acetylcholine, ACTH, oxytocin.

RESUMO

A ubiquidade do bocejo normal e a existência de bocejo de caráter anormal justificam o conhecimento deste reflexo. Muito pouco se sabe a respeito dos mecanismos fisiológicos e papel funcional dos bocejos. Uma revisão da literatura mostra que o bocejo é um reflexo de alerta cerebral com alças centrais e periféricas, cujo objetivo é reverter hipoxia ou hipoxemia cerebral. Comportamentalmente, bocejar é ato semi-involuntário que ocorre também por causa de perda cognitiva de interesse pelo meio ambiente e não está necessariamante associado com sensação de fadiga. Fatores sócio-ambientais podem influenciar o aparecimento de bocejos. Os sistemas neuronais dopaminérgico, colinérgico, ACTH e oxitocinérgico estão envolvidos na geração e modulação do bocejo em animais de experimentação.

Palavras-chave: bocejo, fadiga, hipoxia, sonolência, dopamina, acetilcolina, ACTH, oxitocina.

Texto completo disponível apenas em PDF.

Full text available only in PDF format.

Acknowledgments - Special thanks to Dr. Stella Tavares and Dr. Leticia Lobo for their assistance.

Aceite: 22-novembro-1994.

Dr. Flávio Aloé - Al. Jaú 1791 - 01420-002 São Paulo SP - Brasil. FAX (55.11) 280-9519.

1. Argiolas A, Melis MR, Gessa GL. Oxytocin: an extremely potent inducer of penile erections and yawning. Eur J Pharmacol 1986, 130:265-272.
2. Argiolas A, Melis MR, Gessa GL. Yawning: neurochemistry, physiology and pathology. Cephalalgia 1987, 7:131-137.
3.Argiolas A, Melis MR, Vargiu L, Gessa GL. d(CH2)s-Tyr(Me)-Orn⁸-vasotocin, a potent oxytocin antagonist, antagonizes penile erection and yawning induced by oxytocin and apomorphine, but not by ACTH(1-24). Eur J Pharmacol 1987, 134:221-224.
4. Argiolas A, Metis MR, Mauri A, Gessa GL. Paraventricularis nucleus lesion prevents yawning and penile erection by apomorphine and oxytocin but not by ACTH in rats. Brain Res 1987, 421: 349-352.
5. Askenasy JMM. Is yawning an arousal defense reflex ? Journ Psychol 1988,1 23:609-621.
6. Bauer G, Gerstenbrand F, Hengel W. Involuntary motor phenomena in the locked-in syndrome J Neurol 1980, 223:191-198.
7. Bell LA. Boredom and the yawn. Rev Essen Psychol Psychiatry 1980, 17: 91-100.
8. Berendsen HHG, Gowers AJ. Opiate-androgen interaction in drug-induced yawning and penile erection in the rat . Neuroendocrinology 1986; 45:185-190.
9. Bigot-Massoni D. Le bâilliement These Medicine. Paris VIII. Paris, 1989.
10. Charcot JM. Leçons du mardi de la Salpêtrière. Tome III, Paris: Lecrosnier et Babe Ed., 1890, p 1-11.
11. Chouard CH, Bigot-Massoni D. Mécanismes et rôles physiologiques du bâillement. Ann Oto-Laryng 1990, 107:145-153.
12. De Vries JIP, Visser GHA, Prechtl HFR. The emergence of fetal behavior II. Quantative Aspects. E Human Develop 1985, 7:301-322.
13. Ferrari W, Gessa GL, Vargiu L. Behavioural effects induced by intracisternally injected ACTH and MSH. Ann NY Acad Sci 1963, 104:330-345.
14. Friedell A. Letter. N Engl J Med 1974, 290: 1439-1440.
15. Gessa GL, Pisano M, Vargiu L, Crabai F, Ferrari W. Stretching and yawning movements after intracerebral injection of ACTH. Rev Can Biol 1976,26:229-236.
16. Geschwend J. Yawning in a case with transecting glioma of the pons. Fortschr Neurol Psych Grenzgeb 1977, 45:652-655.
17. Karasawa J, Kuryama Y, Kuro M, Kikuchi H, Sawada T, Mitsugi T. 1. Monitoring system of cerebral flow and cerebral metabolism. 2. Relationship between internal jugular tension and cerebral blood flow. Brain-Nerve 1982, 34:239-245.
18. Lehmann HE. Yawning: a homeostatic reflex and its psychological Significance. Bull Menninger Clinic 1979, 43:123-126.
19. Lobo LL, Neumann BG, Eidman DS, Tufik S. Effects of REM sleep deprivation on ACTH-induced yawning. Pharmacology 1990, 40:174-178
20. Metis MR, Argiolas A, Gessa GL. Apomorphine-induced penile erection and yawning: site of action on the brain. Brain Res 1987, 398:259-265.
21. Metis MR, Argiolas A, Gessa GL Evidence that apomorphine induces penile erection and yawning by releasing oxytocin in the central nervous system. Eur J Pharmacol 1989, 164: 565-572.
22. Metis MR, Argiolas A, Stamcanpiano R, Gessa GL Effects of apomorphine on oxytocin concentration in different brain areas and plasma. Eur J Pharmacol 1990, 182: 101-107.
23. Metis MR, Argiolas A, Stamcanpiano R, Gessa GL, Argiolas A. Prevention by morphine of apomorphine- and oxytocin-induced penile erection and yawning: site of action in the brain. Neuropsychopharmacology 1992, 6: 17-21.
24. Montagu A. Why we yawn? JAMA 1962; 290:127-128.
25. Neumann BG, Troncone LRP, Braz S, TUfik S. Modifications on dopaminergic and cholinergic systems induced by the water tank technique: analysis through yawning behavior. Arch Intern Pharmacodyn Therap 1990,308:32-38.
26. Provine RR, Hamernik HB. Yawning effects of stimulus interest. Bull Psychol Soc 1986, 24: 437-438.
27. Provine RR. Yawning as a stereotyped action pattern and releasing stimulus. Ethology 1986, 72: 109-122.
28. Siegal S. Utter. N Engl J Med 1974, 290: 1439-1440.
29. Suganami S. Study on subjective symptoms of fatigue of senior high school students: 2. Study on physical load of senior high school students. Okayama Iqakkai Zasshi 1977, 89: 195-218.
30. Tufik S, Troncone RPL, Braz S, Silva-Filho AR, Neumann BG. Does REM sleep deprivation induce subsensitivity of presynaptic acetylcholine receptors in the rat brain?. Eur J Pharmacol 1987, 140: 215-219.
31. Twiest M. Letter. N Engl J Med 1974, 290: 1439-1440.
32. Yamada K, Furukara T. Direct evidence for involvement of dopaminergic inhibition and cholinergic activation of yawning. Psychopharmacology 1980, 67: 39-43.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
19 Jan 2011
Date of issue
June 1994

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

[1] 1. Argiolas A, Melis MR, Gessa GL. Oxytocin: an extremely potent inducer of penile erections and yawning. Eur J Pharmacol 1986, 130:265-272.

[2] 2. Argiolas A, Melis MR, Gessa GL. Yawning: neurochemistry, physiology and pathology. Cephalalgia 1987, 7:131-137.

[3] 3.Argiolas A, Melis MR, Vargiu L, Gessa GL. d(CH2)s-Tyr(Me)-Orn⁸-vasotocin, a potent oxytocin antagonist, antagonizes penile erection and yawning induced by oxytocin and apomorphine, but not by ACTH(1-24). Eur J Pharmacol 1987, 134:221-224.

[4] 4. Argiolas A, Metis MR, Mauri A, Gessa GL. Paraventricularis nucleus lesion prevents yawning and penile erection by apomorphine and oxytocin but not by ACTH in rats. Brain Res 1987, 421: 349-352.

[5] 5. Askenasy JMM. Is yawning an arousal defense reflex ? Journ Psychol 1988,1 23:609-621.

[6] 6. Bauer G, Gerstenbrand F, Hengel W. Involuntary motor phenomena in the locked-in syndrome J Neurol 1980, 223:191-198.

[7] 7. Bell LA. Boredom and the yawn. Rev Essen Psychol Psychiatry 1980, 17: 91-100.

[8] 8. Berendsen HHG, Gowers AJ. Opiate-androgen interaction in drug-induced yawning and penile erection in the rat . Neuroendocrinology 1986; 45:185-190.

[9] 9. Bigot-Massoni D. Le bâilliement These Medicine. Paris VIII. Paris, 1989.

[10] 10. Charcot JM. Leçons du mardi de la Salpêtrière. Tome III, Paris: Lecrosnier et Babe Ed., 1890, p 1-11.

[11] 11. Chouard CH, Bigot-Massoni D. Mécanismes et rôles physiologiques du bâillement. Ann Oto-Laryng 1990, 107:145-153.

[12] 12. De Vries JIP, Visser GHA, Prechtl HFR. The emergence of fetal behavior II. Quantative Aspects. E Human Develop 1985, 7:301-322.

[13] 13. Ferrari W, Gessa GL, Vargiu L. Behavioural effects induced by intracisternally injected ACTH and MSH. Ann NY Acad Sci 1963, 104:330-345.

[14] 14. Friedell A. Letter. N Engl J Med 1974, 290: 1439-1440.

[15] 15. Gessa GL, Pisano M, Vargiu L, Crabai F, Ferrari W. Stretching and yawning movements after intracerebral injection of ACTH. Rev Can Biol 1976,26:229-236.

[16] 16. Geschwend J. Yawning in a case with transecting glioma of the pons. Fortschr Neurol Psych Grenzgeb 1977, 45:652-655.

[17] 17. Karasawa J, Kuryama Y, Kuro M, Kikuchi H, Sawada T, Mitsugi T. 1. Monitoring system of cerebral flow and cerebral metabolism. 2. Relationship between internal jugular tension and cerebral blood flow. Brain-Nerve 1982, 34:239-245.

[18] 18. Lehmann HE. Yawning: a homeostatic reflex and its psychological Significance. Bull Menninger Clinic 1979, 43:123-126.

[19] 19. Lobo LL, Neumann BG, Eidman DS, Tufik S. Effects of REM sleep deprivation on ACTH-induced yawning. Pharmacology 1990, 40:174-178

[20] 20. Metis MR, Argiolas A, Gessa GL. Apomorphine-induced penile erection and yawning: site of action on the brain. Brain Res 1987, 398:259-265.

[21] 21. Metis MR, Argiolas A, Gessa GL Evidence that apomorphine induces penile erection and yawning by releasing oxytocin in the central nervous system. Eur J Pharmacol 1989, 164: 565-572.

[22] 22. Metis MR, Argiolas A, Stamcanpiano R, Gessa GL Effects of apomorphine on oxytocin concentration in different brain areas and plasma. Eur J Pharmacol 1990, 182: 101-107.

[23] 23. Metis MR, Argiolas A, Stamcanpiano R, Gessa GL, Argiolas A. Prevention by morphine of apomorphine- and oxytocin-induced penile erection and yawning: site of action in the brain. Neuropsychopharmacology 1992, 6: 17-21.

[24] 24. Montagu A. Why we yawn? JAMA 1962; 290:127-128.

[25] 25. Neumann BG, Troncone LRP, Braz S, TUfik S. Modifications on dopaminergic and cholinergic systems induced by the water tank technique: analysis through yawning behavior. Arch Intern Pharmacodyn Therap 1990,308:32-38.

[26] 26. Provine RR, Hamernik HB. Yawning effects of stimulus interest. Bull Psychol Soc 1986, 24: 437-438.

[27] 27. Provine RR. Yawning as a stereotyped action pattern and releasing stimulus. Ethology 1986, 72: 109-122.

[28] 28. Siegal S. Utter. N Engl J Med 1974, 290: 1439-1440.

[29] 29. Suganami S. Study on subjective symptoms of fatigue of senior high school students: 2. Study on physical load of senior high school students. Okayama Iqakkai Zasshi 1977, 89: 195-218.

[30] 30. Tufik S, Troncone RPL, Braz S, Silva-Filho AR, Neumann BG. Does REM sleep deprivation induce subsensitivity of presynaptic acetylcholine receptors in the rat brain?. Eur J Pharmacol 1987, 140: 215-219.

[31] 31. Twiest M. Letter. N Engl J Med 1974, 290: 1439-1440.

[32] 32. Yamada K, Furukara T. Direct evidence for involvement of dopaminergic inhibition and cholinergic activation of yawning. Psychopharmacology 1980, 67: 39-43.