LIVING OUR LIMBIC LEGACY 25interpret, and intuit at a level unique to the human species, it is our
critical and creative brain. It is also, however, the part of the brain that is
least honest; therefore, it is our “lying brain.” Because it is capable of
complex thought, this brain—unlike its limbic counterpart—is the least
reliable of the three major brain components. This is the brain that can
deceive, and it deceives often (Vrij, 2003, 1–17).
Returning to our earlier example, while the limbic system may compel
the millennial bomber to sweat profusely while being questioned by the
customs officer, the neocortex is quite capable of allowing him to lie about
his true sentiments. The thinking part of the brain, which is the part that
governs our speech (specifically, Broca’s area), could cause the bomber to
say, “I have no explosives in the car,” should the officer inquire as to what
is in his automobile, even if that claim is an utter falsehood. The neocor-
tex can easily permit us to tell a friend that we like her new haircut when
we, in fact, do not, or it can facilitate the very convincing statement, “I did
not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky.”
Because the neocortex (the thinking brain) is capable of dishonesty, it
is not a good source of reliable or accurate information (Ost, 2006, 259–
291). In summary, when it comes to revealing honest nonverbal behaviors
that help us read people, the limbic system is the holy grail of body lan-
guage. Thus, this is the area of the brain where we want to focus our at-
tention.
OUR LIMBIC RESPONSES—THE THREE F’S
OF NONVERBALSOne of the classic ways the limbic brain has assured our survival as
a species—and produced a reliable number of nonverbal tells in the pro-
cess—is by regulating our behavior when confronting danger, whether it
be a prehistoric man facing a Stone Age beast or a modern-day employee
facing a stone-hearted boss. Over the millennia, we have retained the
competent, life-saving visceral reactions of our animal heritage. In order
to ensure our survival, the brain’s very elegant response to distress or