Tbh I think that most people already know that is true but because the show and comics handwave it we also choose to handwave it. Also I think Matt has the ability to sense it in people in other ways - heartbeat is shorthand (and it's one I will use to just keep the plot moving) but judging by what he told Foggy he uses other senses along with heartbeat to detect if people are lying.
Re: Polygraphs often don't work