Murders and Mysteries of New England · Marti Shaw

The Jumping Frenchmen of Maine

·12 min·1 clip

Jumping Frenchmen would automatically obey any command given suddenly after being startled, even striking loved ones.

This episode explores the mysterious 19th century case of the Jumping Frenchmen of Maine, a group of lumberjacks who exhibited an exaggerated startle reflex causing them to jump uncontrollably and sometimes obey commands automatically. Host Marty Shaw examines historical accounts, medical theories, and compares it to similar disorders worldwide, ultimately presenting five possible explanations for this rare condition that remains medically unexplained.

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