5 Weird Involuntary Behaviors Explained!

Why we yawn, why we hiccup, twitchy eyes (and more)!
↓ More info and sources below ↓

Our bodies do a lot of weird things, and many of them are completely involuntary. Why do we often jerk our bodies awake right before falling asleep? Why do we yawn? Why do we hiccup? Why do some people sneeze when they look at the sun? And why does your eye twitch? This week we'll look at the science behind these crazy involuntary behaviors!

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(it was probably not written by Aristotle, but instead collected after his death)

Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment below!

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It's Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.DFollow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe
Email me: itsokaytobesmart AT gmail DOT com
Produced for PBS Digital Studios

Joe Hanson - Creator/Host/Writer
Joe Nicolosi - Director
Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate Producer
Andrew Matthews - Editing/Motion Graphics
Katie Graham - Director of Photography
John Knudsen - Gaffer
Dalton Allen - Post-Production Intern

Theme music:
"Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeod

Other music via APM

Stock images from Shutterstock

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Last week's video:

More videos:

[jamessullivan]

when i wake up at 6 am for school I sometimes imagine myself getting dressed and then miss the bus when I realize i never got out of bed

[lmfaoable]

Stretching while yawning = best feeling ever!

[overcookedwater]

Me: *watches yawning people
Also me: *BUUURP*
Body: oops. Wrong response

[suraya_]

Am i the only one who yawns constantly everyday, and it doesn’t feel like I took a satisfied yawn?

[spiderninja_]

When I was a kid, I thought I was "allergic" to the sun, since I sneezed when I looked at it sometimes.

[heavymeddle]

I'm 50 today but remember when I yawned in class. "am I boring you?" what a stupid question coming from a teacher to a teenager. Two reasons. Can't control that plus "yes of cause you're boring me" 😊

[geekfrk]

when I searched “why does my" the first thing that pops out was “why does my nipples hurt".

[winstonchurchill]

3:34, when you stub your toe in the middle of a yawn

[grimm]

my whole body twitches/shivers violently a lot at random and it annoys me, it lasts only a few seconds but i always look weird doing it

[thequeenofcringe]

Imagine how many times the editor yawned from the yawning

[bars]

I sneeze at the sun, it feels so freaking satisfying that sometimes I purposely look at the Sun.

[meredithhunt]

Loved it when that one guy yawned/ screamed

[MPSGAS]

These bugs will be patched on human update 2.0

[winstonchurchill]

Dang it, is it just me or whenever someone says regulate breathing, I can’t get my breathing back to autopilot anymore.

[oliviah.]

Does anyone else just randomly get a chill you can't control and like drop whatever's in your hands when someone's behind you, touches your hair, or it just randomly happens...

[IndustryOfMagic]

I typed "why does my" and top result was "..cat lick me"

[em_joy]

oh my gosh the baby sloth at 3:19 is so cute XD

[acidpatch]

When I was young, I thought the reason I sneezed when I looked at the sun was because pollen collected around light because whenever I turned on a flashlight, I saw dust. Obviously that’s not right, but I tried 🙃

[icky]

why then do I suddenly have a goosebump chill for no apparent reason???...even when I'm not cold.

[EvGlaceon]

3:34 literally made me laugh till my ribs hurt.