PSYC 233 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Microexpression, Autonomic Nervous System, Polygraph
24 Sep 2017
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The ans is a system of nerves that monitors and regulates involuntary and unconscious bodily functions (such as respiration, circulation, digestion) by transmitting messages to and from organs. It is meant to prepare us for whatever action we are planning on taking. These patterns of ans activity emerged and endured because they were able to recruit adaptive ways of behavior. Polygraph tests assess respiratory rates, electrodermal responses and one"s heartrate, which are for a few reasons. Firstly, some people are naturally good at telling lies, so that it doesn"t have an present in the ans. To detect a lie, it looks for increases in the ans, because lying creates a stress response which will activate these systems. Polygraphs are not reliable measures of truthfulness effect on their body. Secondly, there are ways people can learn to lie so that it does not become a stressor.
