Yawning: Why is it so contagious and why should it matter?
Echophenomena isn't just a human trait
Contagious yawning is triggered involuntarily when we observe another person yawn – it is a common form of echophenomena – the automatic imitation of another's words (echolalia) or actions (echopraxia). And it's not just humans who have a propensity for contagious yawning – chimpanzees and dogs do it too.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170831123031.htm