The Relationship Between Facial Skin Surface Temperature Reactivity and Traditional Polygraph Measures Used in the Psychophysiological Detection of Deception: A Preliminary Investigation
Abstract
Data from several pilot studies suggest that thermal imaging technology might be a useful supplement to traditional polygraph measures used in the psychophysiological detection of deception. This study investigated the feasibility of combining traditional polygraph measures such as blood volume, respiration, and electrodermal activity with facial skin surface temperature (SST) changes recorded using high-definition thermal imaging. Participants were randomly assigned to nondeceptive (n = 13) or deceptive (n = 12) treatment groups using a mock-crime scenario. A thermal imaging radiometer was used to monitor skin surface temperature while a specific-issue polygraph test was conducted. The results of traditional polygraph measures of electrodermal, cardiovascular, and respiratory activity were simultaneously recorded. The frequencies of accurate determinations using these traditional polygraph measures, SST measures, and a combination of traditional polygraph and SST measures were compared using binary logistic regression. The highest deceptive/nondeceptive classification accuracy was obtained using a combination of traditional polygraph and SST measures, suggesting that recordings of facial skin surface temperature provide information that may be useful when combined with traditional measures during a polygraph examination. These results are discussed in relation to orienting response (OR) theory. (5 tables, 3 figures, 29 refs.)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA414911
Entities
People
- Andrew H. Ryan
- Dean A. Pollina
Organizations
- United States Department of Defense