In 2007, an outbreak of twitching, headaches, and dizziness affected at least nine girls and one teacher at William Byrd High School in Vinton, Virginia. The episode lasted for months amid other local public health scares, and was attributed to mass hysteria. The incident highlighted the vulnerability of school communities to psychogenic illness and the role of stress in triggering physical symptoms.

The Vinton twitching epidemic has been cited in psychological and sociological studies as an example of mass psychogenic illness in a school setting. The event has inspired writers to explore the dynamics of fear and the power of suggestion among young people, and it has been referenced in works that examine the psychology of groups and the role of stress in triggering collective behavior. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of critical thinking in the face of unexplained phenomena.