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POLYGRAPH ( LIE DETECTOR )

Psycho-physiological deception technique (or psychosomatic interaction)

Study of Study of how Related to cells

mind and human body mental
behaviour works disturbance
 is a process by which a study of functioning of different body systems is studied to
detect lies
 Keeler polygraph and Stoelling deceptograph are in common use.
 it is focused on studying function of human nervous system and bodily reactions of
person as influenced by his mental responses to specific stimuli.
 question formation should be in such a way that we deceive deviation from normal
psycho-physiological reaction from subject.

Principle:
 A polygraph, or lie detector, works on the principle that when a person is lying, they
experience emotional stress, which triggers the sympathetic nervous system. This
stress response causes physiological changes in the body, such as an increase in
heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and Galvanic Skin Response (GSR).
 This response is because the psychological phenomenon of mental excitation will
stimulate adrenal gland of a person. This gland secrets adrenal (adrenaline) which on
entering the blood stream rise the blood pressure, pulse, and respiration.
 The more stressed a person is about their lies, the more these physiological changes
are noticeable, helping the examiner detect potential deception.
In simpler words: mental disturbance causes physiological changes and this interaction
can be used for analysis.

The lie detector or polygraph measures or records the following 4 parameters:

 Blood Pressure,
 Respiration,
 Galvanic Skin Reaction, and
 Pulse
Note: Amongst all responses, the response to change in respiration and galvanic skin
reaction are assumed to be more reliable.

Types of polygraph test:

1. CONTROL QUESTION TECHNIQUE:
- The Control Question Technique (CQT) involves the use of two types of
questions: control questions and relevant questions.
- The control questions are questions about an act of wrongdoing or some
general nature as the main incident under investigation and one to which the
subject will lie. These questions are designed to provoke a response, regardless
of the subject's guilt.
- Control que should be as broad as possible.
 - In this technique, the control que are followed by the relevant questions which
directly pertain to the incident under investigation.
- The subject's physiological responses to the control and relevant questions are
compared.
- If the response to the relevant questions is greater than that to the control
questions, it suggests deception.
- Ideally, the subject's answer to the control questions should be "no" to ensure
standardization.
- This technique emphasizes observing physiological patterns, such as heart rate
and respiration, to assess truthfulness.

2. PEAK OF TENSION:
- This is a specialized polygraph test used when the investigator has key
information about the case that the subject is unaware that he knows.
- A specific detail about the incident, such as an object, time, or location, is
integrated into the test. The subject is exposed to a series of questions, with
one being the critical detail
- measures emotional responses to questions designed to increase tension, often
detecting stress related to a specific event.
- This heightened response indicates familiarity with the incident, implying
potential involvement.
3. Concealed Information Test (CIT) or Guilty Knowledge Test (GKT):
- This method is based on the assumption that a guilty person will have a
stronger emotional reaction (i.e., a physiological response) to relevant,
concealed information.
- This consist of preparation and asking of certain questions about the fictious
incident of a similar nature but not about real on.
- No questions directly reference the actual incident during the test.
- The subject's responses to the fictitious scenario are compared to detect signs
of guilt or innocence.

Types of questions in polygraph:

 Irrelevant questions:
 These questions are unrelated to the case but are used to establish a baseline
for the person’s normal physiological responses.
 These are questions where subject is always truthful (no hiding, no lying)
 Example: Breakfast, weather, name, address, age, sex etc
 Relevant questions:
 These are questions directly related to the issue or event being investigated.
 Its purpose is usually to implicate suspect in a crime or to point out that
interviewer has info about some aspect of crime.
 Example: "Did you steal the money?"
 Control questions:
 These questions are designed to provoke a physiological response, typically
about past behaviors or situations, to compare against the relevant questions.
  They are used to establish a baseline for how the person responds under stress,
regardless of whether they are lying.
 Control questions are capable of provoking emotion about act of wrongdoing of
some general nature as the main issue under investigation but not related to
the issue under investigation.
 Example: "Have you ever told a lie?" or "Have you ever stolen anything?"

A brief narration is ideal with IO to understand the case and details thoroughly and helps
formulation of question properly. IO will give gap areas and questions regarding this gap
of details are asked.

The questions are asked every 20 to 25 seconds, and the polygraph chart is recorded in
3-4 minutes.
Persons suffering from and diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular system,
overreactive personalities, drug-addicts, restless and non-cooperative individuals and
mentally unsound persons are thought to be unsuitable for this test.

Instruments:
1. Pneumograph: It consist of a rubber tube worn around the chest of a person. It
measures the respiratory changes.
2. Sphygmograph: It is an inflated cuff rapped around the upper arm. It measures
cardio muscular changes.
3. Electrodes: Electrodes are attached to index finger/ ring finger of left hand, it
measures GSR (Galvanic Skin Resistance).
4. Plethysmograph: It is attached to the thumb. It measures changes in pulse rate.

Examination Procedure:
1. Room environment:
- The examination room should not be decorated. (most ideally white walls only)
- There should not be any articles in the room.
- The subject should be made familiar with examination room, polygraph
instrument and the people involve.
- The subject should be instructed about the manner in which he should eat
during the examination.
- Soundproof room
2. Document-work:
- Consent and Court order
- Document required before starting the process:
1. Copy of FIR.
2. Case History.
3. Testimonies.
4. Issues to be checked on polygraph.
5. Post-mortem or medico legal report of victim.
6. Panchnama
 7. Other crime related documents
3. Test:
A. Pre-Test:
o The examiner explains the procedure to subject and introduces them to
polygraph, and the subject is asked about their medical history and any
medications they might be on.
o To carry out the procedure of lie detection written consent of person is
taken prior to the procedure. The subject is advised of his/her
constitutional rights to voluntary action of submitting to the polygraph
examination. If subject disagrees on giving test, No test shall be
performed.
o Bring subject in comfort and proper state of mind.
B. Interview:
o The subject is asked a series of relevant, irrelevant, and control questions
while the polygraph records their physiological responses.
o Answers only in YES/NO format
C. Post-Test:
o After the test, the examiner reviews the results, discussing any potential
discrepancies or signs of deception with the subject.
o Check whether there’s any harm, physically and mentally to the subject.
Also, a fitness report post-test is to be given

The person, on whom the test is to be performed, is asked to sit in a chair and
instruments are attached to him. Arm cuff is placed for recording blood pressure and
pulse. A belt is placed around the chest to record respiration and an electrode
connection is attached to the tip of one side of index finger to record galvanic skin
reaction. The response of person to question is recorded graphically on a single paper.
Usually not more than 10 questions are asked to a person at any single setting.

Scoring of Polygraph chart: Charts are scored as ---

1. NR- no response : no changes are observed in polygraph tracing while answering
that particular question
2. R – response : meaning marked changes are observed in polygraph tracing while
answering that particular question
3. D- doubtful : Physiological changes are observed, but their significance is unclear.
Further analysis or additional testing may be needed.
Medico-legal Aspects of Polygraph
1. It is established that classification of guilty can be made with 75 % to 97 % accuracy,
but the rate of false positive is sufficiently high. Thus, controversy continues regarding
the accuracy of polygraph testing in detecting
deception.
2. Results of such tests are taken as secondary evidence.
3. Due to high false-positive results, questions are raised regarding the efficacy of this
test to use as the sole arbiter of guilt or innocence.
4. IEA doesn’t recognize Polygraph as evidence.
5. Famous cases: Nithari, Sheena Bora, Jessica lal murder case etc.

Limitations:
- A polygraph may incorrectly indicate deception (false positive) or fail to detect
deception (false negative).
- Stress, nervousness, or fear of being accused of something can also affect the
physiological readings, leading to misleading results.
- There is no standardized methodology universally followed by polygraph examiners,
leading to inconsistencies in the results across different tests.
- It is secondary evidence
- Hard core criminal may easily pass through this test.
- If there is any mental disorder that wasn’t detected prior to test,it may lead to
fluctuations as well.
- Manipulation: example – pin the body with needle, bleeding, BP low