All liars and fibbers, beware! This Thursday night at our LSC After Dark: Science Speakeasy party, we’ll have two different types of lie detector tests for you and your friends to experiment with.

Our “Science Speakeasy” party is 1920s/Prohibition-themed, and although lie detectors might seem like a modern piece of technology, the polygraph was invented by a medical student at the University of California Berkeley in 1921.

Since its invention, the polygraph has been used in many places, from controversial court cases to movies and even daytime talk shows (does Jerry Springer ring any bells?).

Our “Science Speakeasy” party will feature a polygraph machine that measures three different physiological indices: breathing, skin conductivity and pulse.

Here’s how the test works: The interviewer will ask a question to the interviewee. The interviewer then looks at the screen and analyzes the three sensors. Any sudden spikes or irregularities can indicate that the person is possibly lying.

Our second machine, the “Shocking Liar,” measures only skin conductivity. It senses any difference in skin variations, like sweat. Once it determines that you are lying, it gives you a small electrical shock. A warning to be more truthful next time!

Don’t be fooled, though. Someone who is very good at keeping calm might be able to manipulate the machine. Controlling one’s breathing is easy enough, but controlling your pulse is the one variable that’s harder to control.

Are you brave enough to take a spin on our lie detector machines? Keep an eye out for them at LSC After Dark: Science Speakeasy this Thursday night. Grab tickets here.