Clinical Significance of Yawning in Disorders of Consciousness and Vigilance

Summary Yawning is a stereotyped normal behaviour with unknown physiological role. It can occur in excess due to a large variety of medical conditions. Acute bouts of yawning are an early but unspecific warning sign for upcoming disorders of consciousness or clinical worsening, which should prompt the clinician to be prepared for supportive measures. Chronic excessive yawning may lead to medical consultations. In this case, medication side effects and excessive daytime sleepiness are the most frequent aetiologies. Epileptic seizures are occasionally followed by post-ictal yawning which lateralizes the seizure origin to the right hemisphere. Epileptologie 2014; 31: 82 – 86