Fight or Flight and Fauci

Louis Conte’s The Truth be Told: Exploring corruption, controversy, and deception in today’s world from the perspective of a forensic psychophysiologist (Polygraph Examiner).

Louis Conte is a professional Polygraph Examiner, investigator, and writer. In addition to the thousands of offenders he interviewed over his thirty-three years in law enforcement, Conte has conducted over fourteen hundred polygraph cases. He uses well-honed observation skills to ferret out the truth. Observation and careful attention to words and behavior often reveal the truth.

Many are aware of the Fight or Flight response. It is the response built into our nervous system that is activated when we encounter a threat. As a polygraph examiner, it is the physiology associated with fight or flight that we are measuring in determining whether the examinee is being truthful or deceptive during a polygraph.

When the brain perceives a threat, the fight or flight response (which is also referred to as the Freeze, Fight or Flight Response) is activated so that we are prepared to run or engage in combat. The amygdala, an almond-shaped structure deep within our brain, triggers the release of stress hormones into the blood stream. Breathing increases but also becomes shallower. The heart beats faster, pumping blood to major muscle groups in the arms and legs – to prepare for strenuous physical activity - but away from internal and digestive organs. Sometimes this causes people to vomit. The bladder may relax, and I have observed some people literally “pee in their pants.” The mouth goes dry. The eyes also dry out, which causes the rate of blinking to increase. Blood rushes from hands and feet, leaving them cold and sweaty. Perspiration increases throughout the body. Arms and legs may tremble while tension increases in the arms, legs, neck, and shoulders. The mind hyper focuses, pupils dilate, and “Tunnel Vision” may result. I have observed that people’s eyes dart around, perhaps to locate escape routes. On one occasion, I observed a man faint during a polygraph while experiencing fight or flight because he had been caught in a lie.

In this scene from the Soprano’s, we see poor Adrianna La Cerva’s expression of fight or flight response in clear detail when she is unexpectedly pulled into a meeting with law enforcement.

I have seen people do some crazy things in polygraph sessions. As I really do not want people peeing themselves, passing out or puking, I often advise examinees to just tell the truth, come what may. Going through life lying and keeping dark secrets can damage people physically and emotionally. One way or another, the truth will come out.

With all of this in mind, I spent some time examining some video material on Dr. Anthony Fauci. The retired Director of the National Institute for Allergic and Infectious Diseases is a well-known public figure. There are hundreds of hours of video available on Dr. Fauci and therefore a significant amount of material to draw upon for baseline data.

In almost all of his public appearances, Fauci presents the well-honed image of the consummate public health administrator and leader in the scientific establishment. He is known as “America’s Doctor” and is, by his own declaration, the very embodiment of science. Fauci has publicly disagreed with former President Trump, someone who is described as being able to elicit the fight or flight response in many people. Even when disagreeing with Donald Trump, Fauci was as cool as a cucumber.

However, there have been a few occasions where the unflappable Fauci has been uncharacteristically anxious. Those occasions typically involve Senator Rand Paul and his questions about whether Fauci has funded Gain of Function research at that Wuhan Institute of Virology.

In the video, we observe an array of behaviors signaling that Dr. Fauci is experiencing the fight or flight response. It is noted that his head and hands shake. His lips quiver. Fauci often uses his hands in manner that signal “stay out of my personal space” to Rand Paul, even though the Senator is sitting on the other side of the room. He seethes with contempt when he says, “I totally resent the lie that you are propagating, Senator.” He is clearly angered and seems to snap his jaw – as though biting – when he says “Because!” Fauci’s eye blink rate increases. It is clear that his mouth has dried out as he stammers on some of his words. Fauci points an accusatory finger at Paul. As I noted in a previous article, when a person in authority points their finger at you, they are expressing anger that their authority has been challenged.

As the confrontation winds down, Fauci begins fidgeting nervously with a rubber band to displace tension.

However, it is important to remember that all of this behavior is accompanying testimony in which Fauci denied that he lied about funding gain of function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Fauci is even denying that the research he approved was gain of function research. And this is all a problem because there is a clear paper trail and evidence that says the exact opposite.

With all that we know about the way Anthony Fauci presents himself, his behavior in this setting stands in stark contrast. One can argue that Senator Paul simply angers him, but Dr. Fauci is clearly demonstrating the fight or flight response because, the truth be told, his testimony does not add up.

And he knows it.

Fauci has long insisted that he is a respected leader in a community of researchers – virologists and vaccinologists – who are ethical scientists. People who are above reproach, who work tirelessly to use science for the betterment of mankind. The whole idea of the research Fauci funded, we are told, was to make vaccines and medicines to fight pandemics, not trigger them. And yet, with each passing day, more evidence emerges that the Covid pandemic began at the Wuhan lab.

The facts show a very different picture of Fauci and his community. And it is important to remember that the moratorium on gain of function research was initiated because of laboratory accidents. From all of the available evidence, Anthony Fauci continued to fund this risky science anyway. As my friend, Dr. James Lyons-Weiler pointed out in article below, lab leaks and accidents have been a problem for years.

Whatever comes of all of this is hard to predict. Many want Fauci prosecuted. We can all agree with Dr. Lyons-Weiler that it is time to shut down this reckless research. Too many people have already died.

Dr. Fauci, it is time to stop lying about your role in all of this. One way or another, the truth will be told.

Enrollment in the Truth and Deception Course I am teaching at IPAK is open through the end of March. If you would like to learn more about how to assess veracity in people, please consider registering here: