Lie detector machine designed especially for Turks being developed

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A polygraph machine adapted for Turkish culture is currently under development at Istanbul's Üskudar University.

"That which can be considered a 'lie' by regular polygraphs used in the West may not be considered a lie by Turkish people. Cultural differences must be taken into account in the detection of what is a lie and what is not," Professor Nevzat Tarhan, in charge of the project, told the Hürriyet Daily News.

Firstly, how does your "lie detector" work?

The machine we are producing takes into account six parameters: Skin temperature, skin resistance (which means the amount of humidity on the human skin), heart rate, breathing frequency, muscle tension and brain signals, which are the main factors. By measuring these, the machine analyzes the person's nervous system. For this purpose, different measuring units are used to describe different aspects of muscles and brain. We will gather all the data and record answers on special software.

All polygraphs use these parameters to detect a lie. How is yours more accurate when it comes to Turkish people? 

Our lie machine will adapt itself to Turkish people, essentially. All answers should be interpreted according to culture because people's behavior changes depending on where they are from. For example, when jealousy is in question, even among Turks, the reactions of people from the Black Sea, east, central and western Anatolian regions differ. Because of these differences, the expectations and answer can be misinterpreted.  

How do you adapt the lie detector to each region based on cultural and social differences? 

We look at the backgrounds of people, such as their birthplace and origins. A person can react uncomfortably not because they are lying but...

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