The Aztec Death Whistle? The Sound Researchers Are Calling ‘Most Terrifying in the World’

The 'Aztec Death Whistle' terrified people five centuries ago. The effect seemingly is the same even now, stated the Daily Mail. This finding was confirmed by a study published in the journal Communications Psychology. 

The team associated with the study played the sound of 'Aztec Death Whistle' for a group of people. During the process, the brain activity of each individual was being monitored. Participants shared that they felt frightened after hearing the spooky sound. The scans revealed that after the sound, the listeners were on high alert. The team further claimed that certain neural regions were activated in the participants, which are primarily associated with emotions like grief, fear, and anger. 

In order to conduct an extensive examination, the team played sounds from the authentic Aztec Death Whistle, replicas, and other recorded sounds. Brain activity in response to each of these equipment was recorded through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The team noted a negative emotional response and a sense of urgency for most of the subjects in the case of Azted Death Whistle. Another noteworthy observation was that most of the people described the ancient sound as a human scream. Some described it as the sound of machines, trains, and kettles. 

These whistles were dug up from Aztec graves dating back to 1250 to 1521 AD, according to Phys.org. The objects were made of clay and carved into the shape of a human skull. Most of the whistles were found to still be in working condition. Examinations indicated that the sound from the whistle was produced by the pushing around of air in different parts, and then colliding. The study's objective was to understand why the whistles were created and how it was used. 

All the participants in the study were Europeans in order to have some sort of similarity among all the subjects. The device on individuals recorded both their neural and psychological responses. Experts claim that certain low-level cortical auditory regions were activated. The readings suggested that the brain, apart from all the extreme emotions, also experienced confusion. Furthermore, the volunteers also shared that they wanted the sound to stop. 

The effect aligned with the popular assertion that the whistle was used in human sacrifice. Experts speculate that the sound could have been used to terrify the subject as well as onlookers. Another proposed theory is that it was used during battles. The results also back this theory, as the sound could terrify enemies. The team, though, considers the ritual explanation to be more likely.

This reason was also supported by the past discoveries, in which such whistles were found in the hands of sacrifice victims in the Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl temple at Mexico City. "Given both the aversive/scary and associative/symbolic sound nature as well as currently known excavation locations at ritual burial sites with human sacrifices, usage in ritual contexts seems very likely, especially in sacrificial rites and ceremonies related to the dead," the authors claim. Researchers, though, want to conduct more examinations to affirm this assertion.