Determining eyewitness identification accuracy using event-related brain potentials (ERPs)

This study investigated the use of event-related brain potentials (ERPs) as a neurophysiological measure of eyewitness identification accuracy during a lineup task (ERP-lineup). Time delay between viewing the crime and completing the ERP-lineup (no-delay, 1-h delay and 1-week delay conditions) and culprit presence or absence were also manipulated. Results demonstrated that a P300 provided a reliable index of recognition of the culprit relative to the other lineup members across all time delay conditions. Although participants' accuracy decreased at the 1-week time delay compared to no delay and the 1-h time delay, the P300 effect remained strong for participants that made correct identifications irrespective of the time delay. In addition, the P300 was attenuated or was not elicited when the culprit was absent from the lineup.