Lying, deception, and the brain

Deception is a common behavioral phenotype across species. Homo sapiens deceive at an excessive rate and in a manner that is truly unique. While the neural correlates for deception are fairly well known, larger questions remain, such as when did these neural networks emerge, and did deception have anything to do with the emergence of these specific neural substrates? Furthermore, little is known about the neural substrates of self-deception and the evolution of these networks. The summary of our knowledge is presented, with a strong emphasis on the social and metacognitive pressures that deception has put on human evolution. Future research possibilities are also discussed.