Voodoo Death: New Thoughts on an Old Explanation¹

Extant physiological explanations of “voodoo death” are augmented with information about neurophysiological research on sensitization, or tuning, of the autonomic nervous system. The process of suggestion is defined as incorporating both an automatic and cognitive component in tuned individuals; the significance of autonomic tuning in cause and cure of psychosomatic illness and in voodoo death is explored.