You know the feeling. It's the emotional equivalent of seeing something out of the corner of your eye.

So fleeting you're not sure it's real. She's lying, it says. Or maybe don't call him back.

Or perhaps just something's not right. So do you trust it this feeling or do you

brush it aside and if you do trust it what do you call it? Instinct or

intuition? Sixth sense? Your bullshit detector? Whatever name you

prefer there's no doubt that historically speaking it gets a mixed press.

At best perhaps it's the preserve of animals. At worst, it's downright witchy.

By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes. Because after all, where does it come

from this information? Some kind of dial-up to the spirit realm?

Or could there be a scientific explanation?

Tonight on late night woman's hour,

I want to explore the benefits of trusting your instincts.

Businesswoman Hillary Devay became a national treasure overnight

on the TV show Dragon's Den,

deploying a weapons grade bullshit detector

to devastating effect.

Neuroscientist Sophie Scott studies voices, speech and laughter at University College London,

and as a result is even better than most moms at judging when her son is lying to her.

Mo Dowdy is a retired detective inspector with 30 years of police work in CID,

fraud squad, drug squad and Northumbria Crime Squad, including undercover work behind her.

Kit Davies is an anthropologist at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.

Welcome all.

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