In a, some would have thought impossible, stretching of our definition this week, we glance at Cotard’s Syndrome, also known as “Walking Corpse Syndrome”. First described by Jules Cotard (pictured) in 1880, it describes the firm belief of one’s own non-existence or death.

In some cases only certain body parts or functions are considered missing while in severe cases sufferers may be convinced that they are, in fact, dead. In such cases people have claimed that their organs are missing (as if from a funeral preparation) or that their body is putrefying or rotting away.

Sufferers have been known to incorporate circumstances into their delusion as when a sufferer moved from Scotland to South Africa and became convinced by the heat that he had been sent to hell. Other sufferers have begged to be taken to funeral homes or become distressed that their family’s have failed to bury them. Others reason that if they can talk, even though they are clearly dead, that they must be undead immortals.

In “Plight of the Living Dead” Metal Floss covers 10 reported cases of the disorder, while How Stuff Works answers, “What is Cotard’s Syndrome“? Due to its wildly varying presentation, Cotard’s is often considered symptomatic of other, related disorders rather than a diagnostic condition in its own right. Even defenders admit that the syndrome is incredibly rare and little is known regarding mechanism associated with it.

This week we celebrate not the zombies, but the hardworking, entrepreneurial zombie creators! The Emerald Cockroach Wasp, indigenous to Africa and Asia, takes its role seriously. Most zombineers tend to phone in the actual zombie creation. Having spent all their time creating a virus that flies in the face of all that is holy, or a gas that reanimates the recently deceased, they often just toss it in a river. Not the Emerald Cockroach Wasp, my friend!

The wasp begins by finding a nice, healthy strong cockroach. It then applies a quick sting to the motor ganglia which paralyzes the roach’s front legs. That keeps the path clear for the following sting: straight to the brain. This amazingly precise shot disables the roach’s escape reflex – and does nothing else.

The wasp now examines the zombified roach and will sometimes clip its antenna; this is believed to regulate the level of venom in the roach through fluid loss. It then leads the shambling, mindless roach to a burrow. There it implants an egg and, finally, closes the nest behind it. The egg hatches three days later and the larva spends the next week or so feeding on the roach until it finally burrows in deep and pupates. After a single mating a female wasp will zombify several dozen roaches over the course of a month or two.

Here’s to you, you creepy, freaky little wasp!

In “The Cabin in the Woods” a hapless group of attractive teenagers fall victim to a family of zombie sadists. Then other things happen that are incredibly cool, but I won’t talk about but-really-you-should-watch-it-if-you-haven’t-because-it’s-awesome.

To be fair, however, the family in question – The Buckners – isn’t really a zombie family. As it’s pointed out in the movie: “Yes, you had ‘Zombies.’ But this is ‘Zombie Redneck Torture Family.’ Entirely separate thing. It’s like the difference between an elephant and an elephant seal.” Luckily our criteria here at MoreBrains.com is significantly less strict.

The Buckners worked together as a family in life, and then in death, to maim and murder for the exultation of the their faith (and because they really enjoyed it). Poppa, Mama, brothers Matthew and Judah and little sister Patience were wholly dedicated to what they felt was right. It wasn’t – not even close – but that kind of dedication shouldn’t go without some praise, at least.

Kieren Walker’s life was hard. His family didn’t understand him. He didn’t have many friends. The one person he did have a connection with, Rick, was so distraught over his sexual confusion that he joined the army. When word came back that Rick had been killed in action Kieren’s life really took a turn for the worse.

Then he died and things got really complicated.

“In the Flesh“,the excellent BBC mini-series (our review), told the story of what happens after a zombie outbreak. Zombism – or “Partially Deceased Syndrome” – is now a treatable, chronic illness.  Sufferers are being counseled and ultimately forced back into a society that fears and often hates them. The series, as all good sci-fi should, forces people to confront troubling societal issues via veiled metaphor.

Happily the series has already been approved for another run to be released some time in 2014. Kieren, dead though he may be, says a lot about our lives and we can’t wait see more of him.