History Main / MasterOfYourDomain

* David Berglas, Derren Brown and many other magicians perform an effect where an audience member, preferably medically qualified, monitors their pulse, tapping in time with it on a cymbal or similar for the benefit of the rest of the audience. Once a clear rhythm is established, the performer makes their pulse slow down, become erratic, and eventually stop altogether.
** This is a classic illusion in the world of mentalism, but isn't actually an example of this trope since the performer only pretends to use mental powers to slow and stop his or her pulse. Notice how the performer always instructs the volunteer to take the pulse in the wrist, rather than the brachial or carotid.

* Raizo from ''NinjaAssassin'' survives hideous injuries by using this technique. So does the BigBad. So do the mooks.

It can be due to [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower extensive training]], to BioAugmentation or just be a [[StockSuperpowers Superpower]]. As explained in [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofeedback the other wiki]] and in RealLife below, this can also be TruthInTelevision. Stronger fictional wielders of this ability can exhibit abilities such as FeelNoPain, SuperStrength, HealingFactor, VoluntaryShapeshifting, even {{Immortality}}. [[TheSameButMore At the greatest extremes]], they may even be able to alter specific molecules in their bodies or meddle with their own cellular pathways. More often though, their capabilities merely extend to conscious control of normally autonomic and subconscious physiological processes.

* The Bene Gesserit of ''{{Dune}}'' have such utter mastery of their bodies that they could all be immortal if they wanted to. They choose to age only because a cult of eternally-young women would be socially destabilizing.
* The Dunyain from the ''PrinceOfNothing'' books by R. Scott Bakker are essentially unisex Bene Gesserit with a few Mentat skills for good measure.

It can be due to [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower extensive training]], to BioAugmentation or just be a [[StockSuperpowers Superpower]]. As explained in [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofeedback the other wiki]] and in RealLife below, this can also be TruthInTelevision. Stronger fictional wielders of this ability can exhibit abilities such as VoluntaryShapeshifting, SuperStrength, HealingFactor, even {{Immortality}}. [[TheSameButMore At the greatest extremes]], they may even be able to alter specific molecules in their bodies or meddle with their own cellular pathways. More often though, their capabilities merely extend to conscious control of normally autonomic and subconscious physiological processes.

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** It also has a Daredevil-inspired vigilante called Warden whose power is essentially "mind-over-everyone's-body" -- including his own.[[/folder]]

It can be due to [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower extensive training]], to BioAugmentation or just be a [[StockSuperpowers Superpower]]. As explained in [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofeedback the other wiki]], this can also be TruthInTelevision. Stronger fictional wielders of this ability can exhibit abilities such as VoluntaryShapeshifting, SuperStrength, HealingFactor, even {{Immortality}}. [[TheSameButMore At the greatest extremes]], they may even be able to alter specific molecules in their bodies or meddle with their own cellular pathways. More often though, their capabilities merely extend to conscious control of normally autonomous and subconscious physiological processes.

* The BigBad from ''NinjaScroll'' mastered this to a deeply exaggerated level; he can control every single cell of his body and regenerate from any level of damage short of total annihilation.

->Paul sensed his own tensions, decided to practice one of the mind-body lessons his mother . Three quick breaths triggered the responses: he fell into the floating awareness ... focusing the consciousness ... aortal dilation ... avoiding the unfocused mechanism of consciousness ... to be conscious by choice ... blood enriched and swift-flooding the overload regions ...

The human body is an amazing machine, the brain even more so. It is also a frustrating one at times, often acting as if it has ... well, a mind of its own. Many bodily functions are handled without our direct, conscious control, such as pulse and respiration rate, digestion, and even how we register pain. There are those who have sought to challenge the authority of the autonomic via EnlightenmentSuperpowers: ascetics and warriors, yogis and sadhu, Tibetan monks and Zen masters. Western science took the ball and ran with it to extract the concept of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofeedback "biofeedback",]] a method of consciously controlling normally automatic functions of the body. The real thing is extraordinary enough (see RealLife below) but, predictably, fictional works often exaggerate it to the point of CharlesAtlasSuperpower.

For the more extreme cases, it's often {{Hand Wave}}d by NinetyPercentOfYourBrain and other cases of ArtMajorBiology. [[IThoughtItMeant The title is decidedly ''not'' a]] {{Seinfeld}} reference.

* The Envoys from Creator/RichardKMorgan's ''Literature/TakeshiKovacs'' series are all capable of manipulating their bodily functions. In ''Broken Angels'', Takeshi Kovacs [[spoiler:has a neural inhibitor remote attached to his skull programmed to kill or sedate him if he so much as got angry. Willing himself completely calm, he rips it out of his head without triggering its responses.]]
* CoryDoctorow's story "[[http://www.salon.com/technology/feature/2002/08/28/0wnz0red/ 0wnz0r3d]]" features computer hackers that figured out how to hack their own bodies. Among other things, they spawn custom T-cells that infect HIV-positve people and cure them.

* In JasperFforde's ''ShadesOfGrey: the Road to High Saffron'', [[spoiler:Jane Grey]] can consciously control [[spoiler:the size of her pupils]], which means that unlike everyone else in the novel's {{dystopia}}n setting, [[spoiler:she can see in the dark]].

* ''TheBionicWoman'' (1970s) episode "Biofeedback", which had a guest character who could use biofeedback to control his own bodily functions.

* The character of Emma Anyanwu and her descendants in Octavia Butler's ''{{Patternist}}'' series can control their bodies at a cellular level. Anyanwu can alter her own DNA and appearance at will, while her descendants are able to heal or injure the bodies of themselves and others. However, it takes time and practice to learn to do this properly, and every change they make in a body has to be understood and visualized.

* The Envoys from Richard K. Morgan's ''AlteredCarbon'' (and sequels) are all capable of manipulating their bodily functions. In ''Broken Angels'', Takeshi Kovacs [[spoiler: has a neural inhibitor remote attached to his skull programmed to kill or sedate him if he so much as got angry. Willing himself completely calm, he rips it out of his head without triggering its responses.]]

* The Ayakami ninja clan in ''{{Empowered}}'' know a special technique that allows them to suppress pain. It's effective enough that fighting them is pretty much like fighting zombie ninja.

* The 2008 ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'' movie has Banner learning to suppress his transformations with ujjayi breathing and meditation. [[spoiler: It was also used later used to trigger a transformation]].

* This appears in many of Vonda N [=McIntyre's=] books, including both ''{{Dreamsnake}}'' and the ''Starfarers'' quartet. In each of them, some biofeedback ability, including the ability to render oneself temporarily sterile by altering the temperature of one's genitalia, is standard for most adults.

* Used in the ''StarWars'' ExpandedUniverse. From putting yourself into a trance that allows you to seem dead, to Vergere's 'Art of the Small' which she used to alter her own bodily chemistry until [[SwissArmyTears her tears could inflict or cure diseases if she wished]], it's all over the place.
* In ''TheSymphonyOfAges'' books by Elizabeth Hayden, Achmed the Snake can change his heartbeat to match the rhythm of anyone possessed by a demon or from the island of Serendair in order to track them across long distances.

* This appears in many of Vonda N [=McIntyre's=] books, including both ''Dreamsnake'' and the ''Starfarers'' quartet. In each of them, some biofeedback ability, including the ability to render oneself temporarily sterile by altering the temperature of one's genitalia, is standard for most adults.

* The character of Emma Anyanwu and her descendants in Octavia Butler's ''Patternist'' series can control their bodies at a cellular level. Anyanwu can alter her own DNA and appearance at will, while her descendants are able to heal or injure the bodies of themselves and others. However, it takes time and practice to learn to do this properly, and every change they make in a body has to be understood and visualized.

[[folder:ComicBooks]]
* {{Batman}} has done this tons of times, usually in the form of slowing his heart to fake death or conserve oxygen.
* {{Superman}} has done it too, slowing down his heartbeat to fake death and escape imprisonment as Clark Kent.
* Issue #10 of WarrenEllis' ''GlobalFrequency'' is pretty much a 20-page fight between two guys who can do this. It is predictably messy.
* In ''{{Stormwatch}}: Team Achilles'' (#23 or so), Baron Chaos fools TheAuthority's appallingly high-tech scanners into thinking he's in a coma.
* Daredevil, thanks to his training with Stick, can speed up his healing via meditation. It's a safe assumption that Elektra can too. Probably Shang Chi as well.
* Noh-Varr, of the GrantMorrison comic MarvelBoy, has a technique for rerouting pain signals to his auditory cortex i.e. turning pain into music. There is also the White Run technique from issue #4.
* An OldMaster during the [="=]Forever[="=] story arc in ''{{Powers}}'' could do this.
[[/folder]]

* ''TravellerClassic''. The psionic ability of Awareness allowed Suspended Animation, the Regeneration of injuries and enhanced Strength and Endurance.

* In the ''StarTrek'' episode "Where No Man Has Gone Before," the newly psychic Gary Mitchell can control his heart rate.

* The ability to consciously slow down one's own heartbeat to fake death is used to escape imprisonment by JamesBond in ''DieAnotherDay''.

* Dieter Tautz, a yoga master in the film ''{{Scanners}}'' is said to be capable of controlling his heart rate and several other usually uncontrollable body functions.[[/folder]]

* The protagonist of the IronDruidChronicles is able to draw energy from the earth to heal injuries, purge toxins and negate pain.

* Pops up a few times in ''TabletopGame/TheWorldOfDarkness'' as a low-level power in physical-based power sets, such as the Life Arcanum in ''TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening'' or the Corporeum Transmutation in ''TabletopGame/PrometheanTheCreated''.

* The Monastics from ''TheActsOfCaine'' books have their Control Disciplines.

** This is a classic illusion in the world of mentalism, but isn't actually an example of this trope since the performer only pretends to use mental powers to slow and stop his or her pulse. Notice how the performer always instructs the volunteer to take the pulse in the wrist, rather than the brachial or carotid.