I don't think 'faking' is the right word here, as in kids conscientiously trying to mislead others by practising tics, calculating the performance etc..

But from the study it seems that it's not Tourettes either.

The Placebo Effect is very real as well, and people weren't faking being sick in the first place, it's just that we're not as 'consciously in charge' as we might think.

My armchair hunch that this is real phenom, and that we are much, much more impressionable than we imagine, and that so many of our attitudes, behaviours and ideas are grafted onto us as opposed to being choices we make.

As noted when doctor's diagnosed kids as 'not having Tourettes', for many, the symptoms just disappeared - as though a more rational authoritative voice overcame some 'inner constructed belief'.

I think this reaches into more than just behaviours, but all those complicated issues of 'identity' as well.

It's an amazing thing it would be very fun to study.