November 6, 2023

Eliza Karel Gruta

12th Grade

Quezon City Science High School

From the moment we wake up, we make up lies. You might tell yourself, “It’s okay, five more minutes won’t make me late,” even though you know that you’ll be spending more than five minutes in bed. “I was late because of the traffic,” even though you know you just woke up late. Lying is normal - so normal that we don’t even question how it happens. In this article, we will tackle the hows and whys of this very ordinary phenomenon. This is Lies-ology 101.

Lies in Psychology

Before we dive into the technical stuff, let us understand when and why people lie. In psychology, lying is a common form of deception, which is when a person says something false with ill intention. Several situations could result in someone lying. These include trying to avoid offending someone, protecting oneself from a perceived threat, or acting out of impulse. Lying, although infamous for its negative connotations in society, can also be viewed positively. Lying can be a way for humans to deal with a bad situation and protect themselves from that situation. It is a coping mechanism. Doing so allows people to gain a sense of control and peace over a challenge. 

Lies in Technology

Recently, there has been a rise in various lie-detection games. Take, for example, the mafia and werewolf games one might play at sleepaway camp to the lie detector toy that shocks a person when they “tell a lie.” This toy was inspired by the polygraph, a lie detector test innovated long ago. This machine measures physiological factors such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and electrodermal activity during a question and answer. However, studies have shown that the results from this machine have shown inconsistencies. The statistics depict a disparity between 50-60% accuracy and 80-90% accuracy. To be more accurate, scientists turned to a tool that previously existed but had never been applied to lie detection. Its name is the fMRI, short for functional magnetic resonance imaging. This tool was able to show brain researchers the differences between a brain that is telling the truth and a brain that is not. To understand more about this, let’s move on to the next process which includes the headquarters of our body– the brain.

Lies in Neurology

The executive team working relentlessly in the brain is a team of four, which consists of the frontal lobe or neocortex, the limbic system or the amygdala, the temporal lobe, and the anterior cingulate cortex. The ‘d’ in the amygdala stands for dramatic. It is the part of the brain in charge of intense emotions such as fear and anxiety. And of course, this part of the brain doesn’t want to suffer on its own, so it sends out neurons to pump out stress hormones that will trigger a person’s fight-or-flight response. In this case, it chooses to fight by stating falsities. 

But with every dramatic friend, comes a logical friend– the neocortex. It is the intelligent part of the brain. The one that sends out signals to suppress the urge to say the truth. Its partner in crime is the temporal lobe. The one in charge of adding in the flavor. The colorful details, the imagery, the creativity– it is quite adept in its job. Furthermore, the temporal lobe is also primarily responsible for processing the information that enters the ears and storing the information. Finally, the proofreader, copywriter, and editor of all your lies– the anterior cingulate cortex. This part is especially stimulated during the process of lying. 

Graduation from Lies-ology 101

With the brain working relentlessly to deliver your lies, it can be said that lying is an intense mental exercise. When a person is telling the truth, the brain does not have to make new connections trying to tie up a plausible story. Instead, the brain functions normally and easily. Which is why lying too much can cause a brain drain. However, like with all habits, the more you lie, the easier it gets to do it. Thus, it is important to remember that lies still have consequences. They can affect your relationships, situations, and even self-perception. It is crucial to lie with caution, not only for the sake of those around you but also for your (quite literally) irreplaceable brain’s health. Now that you’ve finished this crash course on the science behind lying, raise that Lies-ology 101 diploma with pride and be sure to think carefully before blurting out that little lie.