Researchers at the University of Granada have concluded that altough lying doesn't make your nose grow, it will make your nose get hot. They call it the Pinocchio Effect:
A rise in anxiety will see the tip of the nose heat up - while making a 'great mental effort' will help in cooling it down - says the University of Granada's Emilio Gómez Milán and Elvira Salazar López.
They have dubbed the newly-found phenomenon, discovered by using thermal imaging cameras on volunteers, 'The Pinocchio Effect'.
It is an homage to Italian writer Carlo Collodi's 19th century literary wooden character whose nose grew when he came under stress - especially when he failed to tell the truth.
The pair's doctoral thesis research, released yesterday, indicated the temperature of the nose increases or decreases according to mood, as does the orbital muscle area in the inner corner of the eyes.
They claimed that thermal imaging can detect sexual desire and arousal in both men and women, evident by an increase in temperature in the chest and genital areas.
And their work also demonstrated that, at a physiological level at least, men and women become aroused at the same time, although women subjectively indicate that they are not.
They made their conclusions after finding that, when people lie about their feelings, the brain's insular cortex is altered.
Link -via Glenn Reynolds | Image: Disney