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It's been known to happen to humans, chimpanzees, baboons and even dogs.

An innocent yawn can quickly spread in a group of the same species, giving those close by a compelling urge to do the same.

The behaviour has been linked to feelings of compassion, and researchers now believe that wolves can do it too, suggesting that empathy among animals is a more common trait than first thought.

Contagious yawning has been linked to feelings of compassion, and wolves can do it too, suggesting that empathy among animals is a common trait. In this image, a wolf (on the right) yawned during a resting period. A few seconds later (bottom image), another wolf (on the left) yawned contagiously

The research in the journal Plos One focused on a pack of 12 captive wolves at the Tama Zoological Park in Tokyo, Japan.

Scientists observed the wolves' behaviour for 254 hours over the course of five months, watching to see what happened when one of the wolves yawned and others were nearby.

'Yawning occurred significantly more often when the subjects were exposed to' the yawn of another in the pack, the study said.

'Wolves' susceptibility to yawn contagiously was affected by the strength of the social bond with the initial yawner, with wolves yawning more frequently to close social partners' yawns than to other individuals' yawns.'

Scientists observed the wolves' behaviour for 254 hours over the course of five months, watching to see what happened when one of the wolves yawned and others were nearby

Even though the study involved a small number of wolves, researchers said the findings offer initial evidence that contagious yawning is linked to wolves' capacity for empathy.

Perhaps empathy is present in more species than previously thought, said lead author Teresa Romero, a researcher from The University of Tokyo.

'In wolves, as well as in primates and dogs, yawning is contagious between individuals, especially those that are close associates,' she said.

'These results suggest that contagious yawning is a common ancestral trait shared by other mammals and that such ability reveals an emotional connection between individuals.'

Even though the study involved a small number of wolves, researchers said the findings offer initial evidence that contagious yawning is linked to wolves' capacity for empathy

In the human world it is known that contagious yawning affects around half of all adults, yet the causes remain unclear.

Biologists believe contagious yawns are caused by an involuntary copying of the facial expression seen in others.

They think mirror neurons in the pre-frontal cortex – the part of the brain involved in social behaviour – are triggered when certain expressions are seen in others, prompting us to copy them instinctively.

Like humans, animals are more responsive to yawns from individuals with whom they have close social bonds.

A FRIEND'S YAWN IS MORE CATCHING THAN A STRANGER'S

'Contagious' yawns are a sign of deep empathy

If you yawn and the person next to you follows suit, don't worry - you are not boring them. Rather, it is a good sign, for it means they really like you.

A scientific study suggests 'contagious' yawns are a sign of deep empathy. They are caused by an irrepressible need to share and understand the emotions and feelings of others.

The 'emotional bridge' created by the shared experience enhances social bonding, the Italian scientists say.

Researchers who monitored 33 adults over 380 hours, recording 1,375 yawns, found that a yawn was far more likely to spread – and did so more quickly – among friends and relatives.

The scientists also tracked the way yawns spread among bonobos, the species of chimpanzee most closely related to humans. 

They monitored the apes for 800 hours, and found that a yawn 'wave' was just as likely to be triggered among bonobos as it is in humans.

A yawn was just as likely to spread between unrelated primates as it was between family members.