SCIENTIFIC METHODS OF DETECTING

DECEPTION
 Polygraph Examination
The determination of lie of the person using the polygraph machine

• Word Association Test

-used to detect deception under the assumption that a guilty person will attempt to avoid replying
with words that may be associated with the crime.

• Use of Hypnotism
the act of putting someone into a mental state like sleep, in which their thoughts can be easily
influenced by someone else

• Use of Alcoholic Beverages

the term : Vino Veritas means “in wine there is truth

• Administration of Truth Serum or Narco-analysis Test

-is a form of psychotherapy and effective aid to scientific interrogation. In a narco analysis test, a
drug like sodiumamytal is used as a truth drug on the suspect for the determination of facts about the
crime. It is called the “Amytal Interview
SIGN AND SYMPTOMS OF EMOTIONAL
TENSION

 Color change
 Sweating
 Inability to look straight in the investigator’s eyes
 Change in heart rate and pulse beat
 Holding of breath
 Dryness of mouth and throat
 Peculiar and unusual expression
 Unusual behavior
THE COMPONENTS OF
POLYGRAPH MACHINE
PNEUMOGRAPH – consist of two 10 inches
convoluted tubes fastened around the subjects chest
and abdomen. During a test, as circumference of the
subject’s chest and abdomen increases with each
inspiration of air, the pneumograph tubes stretch: as
the subject exhales, the contraction it moves.

Function: Records the changes of breathing and

respiration of the subject
GALVANOGRAPH – consist of electrodes attached
to the index finger and the ring finger of the left hand
or to the palmar and dorsal surface of the left hand,
the left hand is suitable because of the fact that the
blood pressure cuff attachment is on the right arm.

Function: It records the skin resistance of the subject

to a very imperceptible amount of electricity.
CARDIOSPHYGMOGRAPH – consist of blood pressure cuff and rubber
pump, and the SPHYGMOMANOMETER, of the typed used by physician.

The blood pressure cuff is fastened around the subject’s right arm in
such away as to ensure that the rubber portion of the cuff is placed over the
brachial artery for a more satisfactorily recording when the rubber portion
of the cuff is placed over the brachial artery for a more satisfactorily
recording. When the rubber cuff is inflated, the alternating distension and
contraction of the tissue of the subject’s arm, due to the changes in blood
pressure (and probably blood volume as well), cause an increase in
pressure within the cuff and in the associated bellows.

 Function: It records the changes of blood pressure and pulse rate

KYMOGRAPH – a motor that drives or pulls the
chart paper under the recording pen at the rate of 6 or
12 inches peer minute
Function: It records the blood pressure/pulse,
respiration and galvanic skin resistance are recorded
simultaneously and continuously on the surface of
moving graph paper driven by Kymograph
Cardio-sphygmograph Component

 Blood pressure cuff which is to the upper right arm of

the subject, slightly above the brachial artery.
 Sphygmomanometer which is utilized to indicate the
amount of air pressure inflated to the system.
 Pump bulb assembly which inflates air into the
system, also known as an air pump it has a hose
connecting the blood pressure cuff through which the
blood pressure changes and passed into the recording
pen.
Cardio-sphygmograph Component
 Resonance control unit which is used for reducing or increasing
the amount of air pressure to reach the brass bellows (tambour)
and thus reduce or increase the amplitude of pen excursions.
 Centering control which is used to provide adjustment of the
tracing so that the composite records pattern would be on the
guideline.
 Vent which provides the means by which air in the system can
be released.
 Recording pen (5 inches long) which is used to record blood
pressure pulse rate changes on the chart paper by means of a
five (5) inch recording pen
Pioneers that contributed to the development & use of the
Cardiospyghmograph in lie detection:

 Cesare Lombroso – An Italian scientist who in

1885 used hydrospygmograph procedure and was
credited to be the pioneer who envisioned the idea
of using scientific procedures to lie detection. He is
considered as the first person to use an instrument
for the purpose of detecting deception
 Angelo Mosso – A pioneer who developed in 1895
a type of sphygmanometer and utilized a scientific
cradle and focus on the significance of fear as an
indication of deception
 Dr. William Moulton Marston (1893-1947) was
born in Cliftondale, Massachusetts where he
received three degrees, an A.B. in 1915, an LL.B.
in 1918 and a PH.D. in 1921. He was a physician,
the developer the theory we use today for the DISC
system and other important devices, and the creator
of the comic book character Wonder Woman
 Marston was also the creator of the systolic blood
pressure test, which lead to the creation of the
polygraph (lie detector). Because of his discovery,
Marston was convinced that women were more
honest and reliable than men and could work faster
and more accurately
 John A. Larson- developed an instrument that
continually and simultaneously measures blood
pressure, pulse and respiration. He designed the
first two recording channel polygraph in the
history. The first mechanical form of detecting
deceptions because it does not only have a
recording pen for cardio,pneumo, & galvano but
also it has the muscular movement pen for the arms
and thighs
Galvanograph Component:
 Finger electrodes assembly which has a finger
electrode plate and retainer bond attached to the left
index and ring finger of the subject. And a connecting
plug designed to fasten the system to the polygraph
machine.
 Recording pen unit which is usually 7 inches in
length.
 Amplifier unit which is made to support the
galvanometer in converting electrical to mechanical
current
Personalities involved in the development & use of
galvanograph:

 Sticker-(1897) worked on the galvanograph

component & studied the influence and relation of
the sweat glands to skin resistance.
• Veraguth- (1907)formulated the term psycho-
galvanic skin reflex. He claimed that electrical
phenomena are due to the activity of the sweat
glands.
• Richard O. Arthur- developed an improvised
polygraph machine with two galvanic skin resistance
Pneumograph component
 Rubber convoluted tube which is ten (10) inches in length corrugated rubber
attached to the chest and abdominal area of the subject. One end of the tube is
sealed and the other end is connected to the instrument by a rather thick walled
rubber tube considerably larger in diameter than the pneumograph tube itself, it
expands and contracts as the subject breathes.

 The beaded chain another component of the pneumograph assembly is used to

fix in place the rubber convoluted tube. •

 Pneumograph recording unit is made up of brass bellows, a frame, crankshaft,

countershaft, adjustable fulcrum, baring with adjusting screw, pen cradle and
pen centering control. Volume changes of the chest caused by breathing is
transmitted to the chest assembly to the recording unit
Contributors to the development of Pneumograph:

 Vittorio Benussi-(1914) noted the changes in

inhalation and exhalation ratio occuring during
deception. He recorded the respiratory curves of
the pneumograph.

• Harold Burtt- a scientist who, in 1918 determined

that the respiratory changes were signs of deception
and concluded that systolic pressure changes are
valuable in determining deception
Keymograph Component
A motor which drive or pull the paper or chart under the
recording pen at the rate of 6 to 12 inches per minute.

• The chart must travel at uniform speed to facilitate valid

interpretations. Chart rolls are approximately 100 ft. Holes
spaced ½ inch apart. The paper is imprinted with horizontal
lines at ¼ inch interval twenty (20) divisions and vertical lines
at 1/10 inch interval with heavy lines at ½ inch divisions
across the paper which represents 5 seconds of time. Pulse rate
per minute may be computed by multiplying the number of
beats counted in one division by 12
The Parts of KEYMOGRAPH:
Chart
is a rolled graph paper composed of 12 divisions
in sixty (60) seconds run designed to measure the rate
of various body functions.
 Rubber roller which pull the paper out of the
machine.

 Paper rail guide serves to secure or ensure the chart

paper’s forward movement without shaking.
Personalities involved in the development
of KEYMOGRAPH

Leonard Keeler (1926) An American criminologist who

invented the kymograph machine.

In 1949, the “KEELER’s Polygraph” incorporated the

galvanograph with measurement, blood pressure &
respiration component & keymograph component.

He also devised a metal recording bellow, rolled chart

paper and the method of question formulation used in
polygraph examination.
Limitations of the Polygraph
 1. It is an invaluable investigative aid, but never a
substitute for an investigation.
 2. It is not a lie detector, it is a scientific diagnostic
instrument.
 3. It does not determine fact, it records responses to
that which the subject knows to be true.
 4. It is only as accurate as the examiner is
competent