POLYGRAPH COUNTERMEASURES 77 1.   Constrict your anal sphincter muscle (anal pucker). (Lykken, 1998; Williams, 1996) Begin either as soon as you recognize a question as a “control” question, or right after answering the “control”  question,  and  continue  for  8–20  seconds,  but  no longer  than  the  beginning  of  the  next  question.  Make  sure that it is only your anal sphincter that you contract. Be sure not  to  tighten  your  legs  at  the  same  time—there  may  be  a strain gauge placed under the front legs of your chair. (Such strain gauges are included with many late-model computerized polygraphs, and are intended to alert the polygrapher to such countermeasures  as  the  tack  in  the  shoe,  or  pressing  one’s toes to the floor. Those countermeasures are to be avoided.) Be  sure  not  to  flex  your  buttocks—some  polygraph  chairs may be equipped with sensors in the seat cushion. Be sure to constrict only the internal anal sphincter muscle. By sitting on your hand while you practice this countermeasure, you will  be  able  to  feel  whether  you  are  flexing  other,  external muscles. 2.   Bite down slowly on your tongue. (Honts et al.,  1985,  1994) Bite down hard enough to produce moderate pain, but don’t cut your tongue. Again, begin either as soon as you recognize a question as a “control” question, or right after answering the “control” question, and continue for 8–20 seconds, but no longer than the beginning of the next question. If you start biting as soon as you recognize the “control” question, you will of course pause long enough to answer the question, and then  resume  the  tongue  bite.  Be  subtle,  your  polygrapher mustn’t notice. You can practice this “pain countermeasure” in front of a mirror. 3.   Think exciting thoughts, (e.g., falling off a cliff, an encounter with a rattlesnake, being raped at knifepoint—use your imag- ination). You want to think of something that will make your heart race and cause an increase in blood pressure. Thoughts