Don't bother trying to stifle that yawn!

Yawning is so contagious that one sleepy person in a room can easily set off the rest. But anyone trying to stifle their yawns at a particularly dull work meeting or date is fighting a losing battle, scientists have found. However much you try not to look bored by yawning, you will yawn just the same amount, it has emerged. And trying to stifle a yawn by keeping your mouth tightly shut will only make you want to do it more. Scientists at Nottingham University made the discovery after showing 36 adults video clips of yawning to study the copycat effect. They say yawning, much like coughing and urinating, is something you feel driven to do more when you know you can't or shouldn't.