Latah

Latah is a condition in which unusual behaviours follow a sudden shock or another outside stressor. It has been observed almost entirely in people from Malaysia, Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries, and its name comes from the Malay language. When the reaction is set off, the affected person may scream, curse, make dance-like movements, laugh uncontrollably, copy the speech or behaviour of others, or obey commands. Physical signs include a faster heart rate and heavy sweating, but no clear physical cause has been found beyond the link between sudden shock or severe emotional stress and the reaction. The cause is undetermined, since it is not known whether it is a genetic disorder, a set of psychosomatic symptoms shaped by Southeast Asian culture, or something else. It was first regarded as a culture-specific startle disorder and was historically seen as a personal difference, not an illness. Comparable conditions are recorded elsewhere, though how they relate to latah is disputed.