Contagious yawning is linked to how empathetic you are, study finds

The million pound question: Why is yawning contagious? Findings indicate that it's more about how empathetic you are rather than everyone in your vicinity needing to catch some zzz's.

Humans are not the only animals that yawn but various studies have revealed a verity of issues, from health, tiredness and now empathy.

However, the truth is, scientists are not completely sure why we take these gaping breathes, and as a result, there have been a huge number of theories put forward.

Everything from cooling the brain to ancient Greeks believing that it removed bad air from the body.

The latest study though, reveals more about the psychological effects of how a yawn can be passed from one person to another.