New York: Currently lie detection methods use heart activity, but now the stomach’s rhythm can be used instead quite accurately for lie detection reports the online edition of New Scientist.
India-born scientist Pankaj Pasricha at the University of Texas found that the heart is unreliable as it's affected not only by the brain but also by factors such as hormones, "But the gut has a mind of its own - literally. It has its own well-developed nervous system that acts independently of almost everything except your unconscious brain," Pasricha said.The researchers used a device called an electrogastrogram (EGG) on 16 test subjects to determine when a person's stomach "beats". They found that the stomach's rate typically does not increase if a person is telling the truth.
Currently the test would add to the already existing methods of lie detection and will not replace them till others validate it. However this additional tool will be of great help to criminologists.
According to Kevin Murphy, a psychologist at the Penn State University, Pennsylvania, the new test might give more and potentially very useful data but it won't provide definitive truth.
The research team said that the early-stage technique could one day improve the accuracy of polygraph tests, which rely mostly on monitoring heart activity.
