Éditions OSCITATIO
Auteur : Olivier Walusinski
The Mystery of Yawning in Physiology and Diseases
Yawning is a stereotyped phylogenetically ancient phenomenon that occurs in almost all vertebrates. As an emotional behavior and an expressive movement, yawning has many consequences; nevertheless, it has so far been poorly addressed in medical research and practice. Bringing together the latest research (in 2010) from an interesting perspective on human development, and its occurrence in neurological diseases - an area explored by only a few investigators - may provide useful clinical information.
This book will make valuable and fascinating reading to neurologists, sleep specialists, psychologists, ethologists and pharmacologists, as well as to anybody interested in uncovering the mystery of yawning.
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This book is a voluminous compilation of scientific facts and studies about the previously less known physiological phenomenon of yawning. From a physiologist’s point of view, some of the studies mentioned in this book were quite interesting; especially the phases through which yawning pass through during ontogenesis.
The observation that yawning and limb movements, and period of myoclonic twitching (against a background of muscle atonia) represent respectively sleep and wakefulness in foetal life stresses the role of yawning in arousal of developing foetal brain. But its role in arousal reinforcement was not convincingly proved by any of the studies mentioned in the book. However, the consistency of yawning with sleep rhythm of infants could be used to learn more about the early sleep-wakefulness mechanisms.
The diagnostic significance of this readily observable phenomenon is well documented in this book. Besides being an early sign/symptom of various diseases in children and adults, it also finds use during 3-D and 4-D sonography for early detection of foetal anomalies. The physiological significance of the thermoregulatory effect of yawning in humans was not clear. The historical perspectives of yawning, though exhaustive, were quite informative.
Bindu M. Kutty
Department of Neurophysiology
National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences
Bangalore 560 029, India
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This is a unique book of 12 chapters on yawning, a physiological process which everyone experiences but understands very little. The science of yawning, ‘chasmology’, has evolved considerably in the past 20 years.
This book is simple reading and motivates the reader to want to know more. I would recommend the book, especially to residents and faculty in physiology, neurology and sleep medicine.
Vinay Goyal
Department of Neurology
All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi
Bindu M. Kitty (Bangalore), Book Review: The mystery of yawning in physiology and disease. Indian J Med res 2011(3):354-355.
Vinay Goal (New Delhi), Book Review: The National medical Journal of India 2010;23(6):368-369.
Akichika Mikami (Chubu Gakuin University Japan), Book Review: Primates 2011;52:97-99.
The Mystery of Yawning in Physiology and Disease
2010 Frontiers of Neurology and Neuroscience 28
ISBN print: 978-3-8055-9404-2
ISBN electronic: 978-3-8055-9405-9