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Frontiers in Evolutionary Neuroscience ·

Volume 2 - 2010 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnevo.2010.00108

Yawning and Stretching Predict Brain Temperature Changes in Rats: Support for the Thermoregulatory Hypothesis

  • Melanie L. Shoup-Knox1*corresponding author
  • Andrew C. Gallup2
  • Gordon G. Gallup1
  • Ewan C. McNay1,3
  1. 11 Department of Psychology, University at Albany Albany, NY, USA
  2. 22 Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University Binghamton, NY, USA
  3. 33 Center for Neuroscience Research, University at Albany Albany, NY, USA
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Abstract

Recent research suggests that yawning is an adaptive behavior that functions to promote brain thermoregulation among homeotherms. To explore the relationship between brain temperature and yawning we implanted thermocoupled probes in the frontal cortex of rats to measure brain temperature before, during and after yawning. Temperature recordings indicate that yawns and stretches occurred during increases in brain temperature, with brain temperatures being restored to baseline following the execution of each of these behaviors. The circulatory changes that accompany yawning and stretching may explain some of the thermal similarities surrounding these events. These results suggest that yawning and stretching may serve to maintain brain thermal homeostasis.

Keywords

References

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Citation

Shoup-Knox, M. L., et al. (2010). Yawning and Stretching Predict Brain Temperature Changes in Rats: Support for the Thermoregulatory Hypothesis. Frontiers in Evolutionary Neuroscience, Volume 2. https://doi.org/
Received
Accepted
Published
Volume
2 - 2010

Copyright

Copyright © 2010 Shoup-Knox, Gallup, Gallup Jr. and McNay.

License: http://www.frontiersin.org/licenseagreement

*Correspondence: Melanie L. Shoup-Knox

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