The skull-shaped body of the Aztec death whistle may represent Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec Lord of the Underworld. Credit: Sascha Frühholz / UZH The so-called Aztec “death whistle” is an instrument ...

ANCIENT Aztec ‘death whistles’ have a strange ‘uncanny valley’-style effect on the human brain, new research has found. These clay instruments were often shaped like human skulls, and are known for ...

Ranging from a threatening hiss to a blood-curdling scream, the sound of the Aztec death whistle is as creepy as the skull-like appearance of the instrument that produces it. Brain scans suggest the ...

Driving through rural areas at dawn or dusk often means sharing the road with wildlife, particularly deer. Vehicle-deer ...

Since ancient times, rituals using various musical instruments have been performed around the world, but the Aztec flute, which imitates a skull, has a tone that stands out from the rest. In an ...

Many ancient cultures used musical instruments in ritual ceremonies. Ancient Aztec communities from the pre-Columbian period of Mesoamerica had a rich mythological codex that was also part of their ...

It is first study to investigate the psychological impacts of these sounds ANCIENT Aztec ‘death whistles’ have a strange ‘uncanny valley’-style effect on the human brain, new research has found. These ...