Multimodal detection of concealed information in rapid serial visual presentation using EEG and pupillometry

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Psychophysiology

Background:

• Concealed Information Tests (CITs) use physiological markers to detect hidden information.
• Previous studies combined autonomic measures, but the added value of neural measures with pupillometry for recognition and attention is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if electroencephalography (EEG) and pupillometry jointly offer reliable markers for concealed information detection.
• To assess if neural measures complement pupillometry in capturing recognition and attentional control.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) paradigm with face stimuli.
• Recorded electroencephalography (EEG) and pupil size concurrently.
• Analyzed ERP amplitude, theta-band power, absolute pupil size, and pupil size change.

Main Results:

• All recorded measures (EEG and pupillometry) differentiated critical probes from controls at the group level.
• Individual-level detection varied across different physiological measures.
• Combining p-values using Fisher's method compensated for single-measure limitations.

Conclusions:

• Joint EEG and pupillometry provide complementary insights into recognition and attentional control during CITs.
• Combined analysis offers more robust evidence for concealed information detection than single measures alone.
• This integrated approach enhances the reliability of CITs by mitigating individual measure weaknesses.