Identifying concealment-related responses in the concealed information test

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Psychophysiology

Background:

• The concealed information test (CIT) is a polygraph technique to detect deception.
• Guilty individuals must not only recognize crime-relevant information but also actively conceal this recognition.
• The neural and autonomic correlates of concealing recognition are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of concealing recognition on event-related potentials (ERPs) and autonomic responses.
• To differentiate physiological responses associated with recognition versus the active concealment of recognition.

Main Methods:

• A mock crime paradigm involving the theft of two items was used.
• Participants underwent two CITs: one for a concealed item and one for a disclosed item.
• Physiological measures included N2 and P3 event-related potentials, heart rate, skin conductance, cutaneous blood flow, late positive potential, and respiration.

Main Results:

• N2, P3, heart rate, skin conductance, and cutaneous blood flow differentiated crime-relevant from irrelevant items in both concealed and disclosed conditions.
• Late positive potential and respiration showed differences only when recognition was concealed, suggesting a controlled processing component.

Conclusions:

• Specific physiological measures (late positive potential, respiration) are sensitive to the active concealment of recognition during CITs.
• These findings suggest distinct neural processes underlying simple recognition versus the controlled suppression of that recognition.
• This research may refine the interpretation of CIT findings in forensic contexts.