Well, the term 'bodily functions' is so vague as to be meaningless. If you take it to include ALL functions, such as metabolic reactions, then I can assure you they do not stop when you sneeze.

I would be interested in what the quizmaster had in mind.

When I was young and the world was new, I knew a young lady whos La Petite Mort often brought on a fit of sneesing. Sneezing, however, did not bring on La Petite Mort. Perhaps the quizmaster had also met her and was confused as to cause and effect.

Sneezing is a reflex response to irritation of the upper respiratory tract and is mainly achieved through contraction of the diaphragm, aided also by abdominal contraction, to bring about forceful squeezing of the lungs and explosive release of trapped air. the manouvre is enabled mainly by the phrenic nerve which completes the reflex arc after airway irritation causes sensory information to be sent to the respiratory centre in the base of the brain. The only functions which ceases upon sneezing are swallowing and the respiratory rhythm which must be briefly curtailed. However, the ensuing increase in abdominal pressure may also pressurise the rectum and bladder possibly causing embarassment! while blood flow return to the heart may increase.

And you can not sneeze without blinking. I was also amused to hear that it is the bodily process that is closest to "La Petit Mort" in that it improves the end result by keeping it on the edge for as long as possible, but if it goes away it is awfully disappointing.

when u sneeze all functions do stop(of course u do not die) but even your heart beat stops for some miliseconds.