LIE DETECTION

TECHNIQUES
FUNDAMENTALS OF
POLYGRAPH CHA
PTE
R
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The Instrument
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The instrument used in Polygraph
Examination is often called as
“Polygraph Machine or Lie Detector”. It
was defined as an instrument or device
capable of producing recordings of
physiological phenomena that may be
used as the basis for the application of a
reliable technique for diagnosing truth or
deception. The machine itself does not
actually detect lies or deception, it can
only records the physiological
phenomena/changes that occur when the
subject tells a lie or deception. It is the
Examiner who detects deception through
the use of the instrument.
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Two Kinds of
Polygraph
Instrument
1. Conventional/Analog Polygraph
Instrument
2. Computerized Polygraph System
a. Lafayette
b. Stoelting
CONVENTIONAL POLYGRAPH INSTRUMENT
COMPUTERIZED POLYGRAPH SYSTEM
(LAFAYETTE)
COMPUTERIZED POLYGRAPH SYSTEM
(STOELTING)
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Four (4) Major

Components of the
Polygraph
Instrument
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1. Pneumograph records changes in

the breathing of the subject.
2. Galvanograph records the skin
resistance of the subject.
3. Cardiograph records the blood
pressure and pulse rate of the
subject.
4. Kymograph is a motor that pulls
or drives the chart.
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Pneumograph
▫ Records changes of breathing of the
subject.
▫ It consist of two hollow corrugated
tubes about seven inches in length.
Each is attached to a unit by a rubber
hose not longer than six feet and no
longer than one-quarter inch in
diameter.
▫ The inhalation/exhalation of the
subject causes the tubes to expand and
contract, thereby reflecting the change
through bellows to the pen into the
chart.
PNEUMO 1 20

▫ Pneumatic connection for upper

(thoracic) pneumograph.
▫ Not connected in an instrument with
only one pneumo channel.
PNEUMO 2
▫ Pneumatic connection for lower
(abdominal) pneumograph.
▫ The pneumo tube contains a
certain volume of air. As the
subject inhale/exhale, the tube
expands and contract, causing
changes in pressure within the
tube. The changes are driven to
the recording bellows, causing, a
 ▫ forward and backward movement 21
of the pivot shaft to which the
recording pen is connected.
PNEUMO PEN
▫ The two upper pens of the instrument
record the respiratory pattern (thoracic
and abdominal breathing patterns of
respiratory) on the chart paper.
PNEUMO TRACING
▫ The respiratory pattern recorded on the
chart which is composed of expiration
and inspiration stroke.
a. Normal Pneumo Tracing
 ▫ The pattern recorded before the 22
insertion of relevant questions.
b. Abnormal Pneumo Tracing
▫ The pattern that deviates from
the norm established for the
individual.
▫ It maybe due to yawning,
sneezing, audible sigh, clearing
of the throat, snort, belch/burp,
slow breathing.
NORM
▫ Tracing produced by the subject’s body
on a moving chart paper before Insertion
of stimuli or relevant questions.
Controls of the Pneumo Section 23

MANUAL CENTERING KNOB

▫ Used to position baseline of the CENTERIN
pneumo tracing on the upper heavy G KNOB
horizontal line.
VENT
▫ With the vent down, the system is
closed and uncooperative.
▫ With the vent up, the system is open
and ready for use.

VENT
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Galvanograph/Galvanic Skin Response
▫ Records the skin resistance of the
subject.
▫ Comprise of finger or palm electrodes.
▫ Include the palm machine used in
determining deception.
FINGER/PALM ELECTRODES
▫ Also known as finger plates or
galvanometers.
▫ Attached on the subject’s index and
ring finger or the palmar and dorsal
surfaces of the left hand
▫ Check and detect skin resistance or the 25
GSR (electrodermal response) towards
a small amount of electricity.
PSYCHOGALVANIC RESPONSE or
GALVANIC SKIN
RESPONSE/RESISTANCE
▫ Is also called electrodermal activity.
It is a measure of the sweat on
fingertips.
▫ A change in the body’s electrical
properties (probably of the skin)
following noxious stimulation. The
response appears as an increase in the
skin’s electrical conductance across the
palms of the feet’ hands
▫ or soles. It appears about two seconds 26
after stimulation, as by a pinprick or
threat of injury; it rises to a maximum
after two to ten seconds and subsides
at about the same rate.
GALVO PEN
▫ The longest (7 inches) and the third
pen of the instrument.
GALVANOGRAPH SWITCH for
GALVO PEN
▫ Manual
▫ Self-centering
▫ Galvo pen electrically returned to
the baseline 6-8 seconds from the CENTERIN AUTO/MAN
initial stimulus. G KNOB SWITCH
 ▫ 80% effective than manual. 27
GALVO TRACING
▫ It can be the most accurate of all three
components in the chart interpretation
since it can be affected by different
stimuli.
▫ Without it, 30% of accurate chart
interpretation is lost.
▫ Normal Galvo Tracing
▫ Slightly wavering line
▫ Deceptive Galvo Tracing
▫ Abrupt return of the galvo
pen towards its baseline or
sharp galvo pen fall.
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Cardiograph/Cardiosphygmograph
▫ Records the blood pressure and pulse
rate of the subject.
▫ It consist of an arm cuff.
ARM CUFF
▫ Placed around the subject’s arm with
the covered rubber bladder part
centered at the brachial artery (in the
arm) or the femoral artery (in the leg).
▫ Inflated between 60-80 mm by a pump
bulb to put air into the system that will
provide tracing amplitude of 0.75 to 1
inch with diacritic notch situated about
the middle of the
▫ diastolic limb tracing. 29

▫ After inflation of the arm cuff, it

becomes so susceptible to monitor
changes in blood pressure and
pulse rate.
BLOOD PRESSURE
▫ The pressure of circulating blood
against the walls of the arteries. Any
condition that dilates or contracts the
blood vessels or affects their elasticity,
or any disease of the heart that
interferes with its pumping power,
affects the blood pressure.
▫ There are two pressures measured:
1. Systolic pressure (the higher 30
pressure and the first number
recorded)
▫ The force that blood exerts on
the artery walls as the heart
contracts to pump the blood
to the peripheral organs and
tissues.
▫ In a healthy individual,
systolic pressure is normally
between 100 and 140 mmHG.
2. Diastolic pressure (the lower
pressure and the second number
recorded)
 ▫ Residual pressure exerted on 31
the arteries as the heart
relaxes between beats (occurs
during relaxation of the
heart).
▫ Normally, between 60 and
100 mmHG.
▫ The point at which the
circulation is restored.
SPHYGMOMANOMETER
▫ Measures blood pressure in millimeter
of mercury (mmHG).
▫ It consists of an inflatable rubber cuff
connected to a pressure-detecting
device with a dial.
PULSE PRESSURE 32

▫ The range or difference between the

upper and lower pressure.
PULSE
▫ A pulse can be felt by applying firm
fingertip pressure to the skin at sites
where the arteries travel near the skin’s
surface; it is more evident when
surrounding muscles are relaxed.
Common pulse points include the
neck’s carotid artery, the brachial
artery inside the elbow, and the wrist’s
radial artery.
CARDIO PEN 33

▫ The fourth and bottom pen of the

instrument.
CARDIO TRACING
▫ Shows the sensitivity of the heart
during questioning.
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Kymograph
▫ Aka Chart Drive Module/Chart
Driving Mechanism.
▫ Pulls or drive the chart paper under the
recording pen at the same time at the
rate of 6-12 inches/minute.
CHART ROLL is:
▫ 100 ft long
▫ 6 inches width with ½ inch margin.
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CHART PAPER is:
▫ Imprinted with horizontal line spaced
at ¼ inch interval (20 divisions)
▫ Vertical lines: 1/10 inch interval.
▫ Heavy lines: ½ inch interval
▫ Each ½ inch division across the paper
signifies 5 seconds of a time. Pulse
rate/minute then may be calculated by
multiplying the # of beats counted in 1
division by 12.
THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY!