Impress your kids with explanations of these quirky behaviors...
Inspired by my friends who stump me with psychologically-related questions I can't answer and my daughter, who counts among her most favorite things the Weird but True section of National Geographic Kids Magazine...
Why is yawning contagious? The purpose of yawning may be to cool the brain so it operates more efficiently and keeps you awake. Researchers from the University of Albany believe that the fact that we yawn when we see another person yawn is innate and may serve the purpose of helping keep the group alert in case of danger. Check out this article for more theories on contagious yawning
Why do you close your eyes when you sneeze? There isn't a clear answer to this one, but most scientists agree that it is likely to protect our eyes from the nasty stuff in our sneezes. Others chalk it up to good ole reflexes (automatic, involuntary responses).
