_____________
/ \
| PREFRONTAL | ← Decision-making
| CORTEX |
| Truth: 🟢 Low | Lie: 🔴 High (cognitive load)
\_____________/
|
________|________
| |
| ANTERIOR CINGULATE | ← Conflict monitoring
| Truth: 🟢 Low | Lie: 🔴 High (dissonance)
|_________________|
|
_________|________
| |
| AMYGDALA | ← Threat / fear
| Truth: 🟢 Calm | Lie: 🔴 High (stress)
|___________________|
|
_________|________
| |
| VENTRAL STRIATUM | ← Reward / satisfaction
| Truth: 🌟 Activated | Lie: 🟠 Low / absent
|___________________|
🔑 Legend
- 🟢 Calm / low activity → truth-aligned
- 🔴 High activity / stress → lying
- 🌟 Reward → truth-telling feels satisfying
- 🟠 Reduced reward → lying feels empty
Takeaway:
Truth-telling activates reward circuits, keeps your fear center calm, and minimizes internal conflict. Lying overloads multiple brain areas — your prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and conflict monitor — making it stressful and exhausting.
