London, July 12 (IANS) The popular notion that looking towards the right suggests lying, while the reverse eye movement indicates telling the truth, may not be true, says a study.

Researchers led by Caroline Watt from the UK's University of Edinburgh debunked this perception on the basis of three studies, demonstrating that the eye movements were not linked to telling the truth or lying.

A large number of people believe that certain eye movements indicate lying, and this idea is even taught in organisational training courses, said Watt, the journal Public Library of Science ONE reports.

Our research doesn't support the idea and suggests that it is time to abandon this approach to detecting deceit, added Watt, according to an Edinburgh statement.