corrente

We depart from our usual discussion of politics to note an item of pure abtruse scientific research today.

(via AP via nyt)

A word to the wise: Be careful who you're telling lies. There's an elite group of people who don't need to see Pinocchio's nose grow, but can pick up on subtle signs that they're not hearing the truth.

[Psychology professor Maureen O'Sullivan] has explained that there are two categories of clues to a lie: thinking clues and emotional ones.

``Basic emotions are hard to conceal completely,'' O'Sullivan said. People may be afraid of being caught or happy that they are putting something over on another person. Either way, some inappropriate emotion may flicker across their face.

O'Sullivan calls these microexpressions -- changes that last less than a second -- and the people best at catching liars are able to notice them.

The thinking clues occur because it's harder to lie than tell the truth, she said. To lie, people have to make something up. This can lead to hesitations in speech, slips of the tongue, lack of detail in what they are saying.

She explained that there are two categories of clues to a lie: thinking clues and emotional ones.

``Basic emotions are hard to conceal completely,'' O'Sullivan said. People may be afraid of being caught or happy that they are putting something over on another person. Either way, some inappropriate emotion may flicker across their face.

O'Sullivan calls these microexpressions -- changes that last less than a second -- and the people best at catching liars are able to notice them.

The thinking clues occur because it's harder to lie than tell the truth, she said. To lie, people have to make something up. This can lead to hesitations in speech, slips of the tongue, lack of detail in what they are saying.

Not that this would sound like anyone we know. But along with the catches noted by Froomkin yesterday, it would provide a fun party game on the right occasions.