The American television series, broadcast in the U.S. in January 2009 for the first time, revolves around Dr. Cal Lightman (played by Tim Roth) and his company, the Ligthman Group. This institute is concerned with psychological research in emotional facial expressions for commercial applications of physically oriented assignments. Dr. Lightman and his partner, Dr. Gillian Foster, analyze the so-called micro-expressions of the face and the body language for their clients.

These are uncontrollable and involuntary movements of the facial muscles, which give information about the state of mind in which the person is. They also help the two scientists in realizing whether a person is telling the truth or lying. Of course, an analysis of the micro expressions does not provide the explanation as to why a person is lying.

Even if individual employees or agents regard the sevices of the Lightman Group with scepticism, federal authorities and public bodies use their services very often. And also many different companies and individuals are among the clients of the institute. The exterior shots of the handsome and stately building of the Lightman Group were shot at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. However, the interiors were not filmed at the address 801 Mount Vernon Place Northwest, the seat of the Washington DC Convention Center.

A recurring filming factor is represented by short images or scene, often flashy, that show certain elements of body language. Here, the state of mind of the person depicted is compared in relation to the film plot and the viewer may observe this detail. These images or scenes are mostly related to famous people who have lied to the public and, later, the lie was found. For example, the following known people:

Bill Clinton

Richard Nixon

O.J. Simpson

George W. Bush

Silvio Berlusconi

The series shows the viewer that words are often used only as a means of deception. They are often only used to conceal or to lie. Through the analysis of the micro-expressions of the face, you will be able to look behind the words and see if what is said is a lie or the truth. Things are not quite as simple though, as micro-expressions cannot specify the reason why a person is lying, whether they are feeling hatred, malice or shame.

The reason may lie in something completely different than the speculating. Detectives like Sherlock Holmes, Columbo or Magnum have followed these tracks and saw where they led. The work of Dr. Lightman, his friend and business partner, Dr. Gillian Foster, as well as Ria Torres, Eli Loker and the staff is always a great help and relief for the client, because he first of all finds out if a suspicious person has lied or told the truth.

Cal Lightman expressed in an episode the following: the question is not whether someone is lying. The question has to be rather why. Among the Lightman Group’s cases are also the following:

The accusation of a female soldier that she had been raped by her supervisor. (Heavy artillery)

A test pilot at NASA has been made guilty of sabotage? (Follow-vacuum)

Who is to blame for the stampede in front of a shopping centre? (Chain reaction)

If a fire-fighter is not trying to save his colleagues? (Unleashed)

Has the star player of a basketball team been drugged? (Heavy artillery)

Has a senior judge murdered her daughter? (Follow-vacuum)

Has a peace activist described the truth in her book? (Anguish)

The research of scientist and psychologist Professor Paul Ekman serve as the basis for the U.S. series and the protagonist Dr. Lightman. He has studied facial expressions and body language around the world and works, as well as his alter ego Ligthman, for federal agencies as well as commercial enterprises.

Unlike Lightman, Ekman is not limited to federal agencies. He has also frequently advised companies when it comes to creating animated characters in cartoons and went beyond as an advisor for the series Lie to Me.

Not everyone can be a specialist in detecting lies based on facial expression. But if you absolutely need to know the truth, you can maybe get a lie detector test to avoid doubts and obtain certainty.

You may find all episodes of the series Lie to Me here.