While you may not turn into Pinocchio every time you tell a lie, savvy sleuths may be able to tell you’re not being honest by merely observing your nose.
The real Geppetto, photo by Leandro Neumann Ciuffo via Wikimedia Commons
Body-language experts say that when you tell a lie, chemicals are released in your body that cause the tissues inside your nose to both warm up and swell. This phenomenon is aptly called “The Pinocchio Effect.” While the swelling is usually too small to notice visibly, it can result in itchiness that leads to touching or even scratching the nose.
“A good liar will have you thinking that maybe the dog did eat the homework.” – Anonymous
How interesting is this bit of physiology today. It might make a useful tip to keep in mind when listening to politicians speak!
Right. When I’m outside–anytime but summer–I always have a slight drizzle in one nostril that I attend to constantly. I’m going to get an inferiority complex.
Good liars are good poker players and successful con men as well. The scientifically based TV show a few seasons back called ” Lie to me” was all about this.
Oh my gosh what a precious birthday message for you!!! That made me smile so big I couldn’t see. As for the itchy nose… very interesting! Now I am armed when my little con artist grandsons try to give me a line of malarkey just so they can have a good laugh ~ hahahaha! I do love that they call it the Pinocchio effect. So original.