Changing the work of the human brain: scientists have studied unique Aztec death scrolls

A unique scientific study has revealed stunning details about the ritual musical instruments of the ancient Aztecs. Miniature clay whistles in the shape of skulls turned out to be much more than just artifacts - they were a powerful psychological tool for influencing human consciousness.

Scientists have discovered that these small objects, 3-5 centimeters long, have an extremely specific acoustic nature. Probably created in honor of Mictlantecutli, the ruler of the underworld, the whistles evoke an extremely emotional reaction in listeners. LiveScience writes about it

A team of researchers led by neuroscientist Sasha Fruchholz conducted a large-scale experiment. More than 70 participants listened to more than 2500 sound samples obtained from five different whistles - three modern reproductions and two authentic artifacts from the Aztec town of Tlatelolco.

The results impressed the scientists. Each whistle produced an extremely expressive sound - piercing, intense, similar to a human scream. Neuroimaging studies have shown that such sounds activate brain areas responsible for emotional reactions and symbolic perception.

Researchers hypothesize that these whistles had a deep psychological impact. They could have been used to induce fear during ceremonies related to death, in particular before human sacrifice. The sound literally "paralyzed" the consciousness of the ritual participants.

Scientists recognize certain limitations of their research. The inability to directly study the reactions of the ancient Aztecs is compensated by an understanding of the universal mechanisms of human emotional susceptibility.

Experts emphasize the exclusivity of these musical instruments. According to the researchers, there was nothing similar in pre-Columbian cultures in terms of acoustic characteristics and ritual purpose.

A scientific study published in the journal Communications Psychology has finally proved that Aztec death whistles were much more than just a musical instrument - they were a complex psychological mechanism of influence on human consciousness.

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