The role of deception in P300 memory detection

Abstract

Purpose. P300 memory detection test is a neuroscientific procedure to assess memories stored in the brain. P300 memory detection can and is currently applied to assess criminal suspects on recognition of critical crime information. Contrasting memory detection with lie detection, researchers have argued that P300 memory detection does not involve deception. We empirically investigated this argument by manipulating deception between groups. Methods. Thirty-four community volunteers participated in a P300 memory detection test, answering either deceptively (deceptive condition) or truthfully (truth condition) to their own name. Results. P300 memory detection was significant in the truth condition, indicating that deceptive responding is not a prerequisite for valid P300 memory detection. However, there were clear indications that deceptive responding improved memory detection. Conclusions. Deception seems involved in the P300 memory detection test; and deceptive responding may add to test accuracy

The cognitive mechanisms underlying deception: An event-related potential study

“…In our data, the reduced P300 together with the enhanced CNV for lying compared to truth telling support the cognitive load hypothesis in lying. Note that whereas our and other previous studies revealed a reduced P300 for lying compared to truth telling in paradigms using equal proportions of truth telling and lying, ERP studies using the Concealed Information Test (CIT) usually observe an opposite result pattern (e.g., Verschuere et al, 2009). In those studies, participants typically respond truthfully on the majority of trials, whereas they deceive only on a small number of trials (usually around 10%).…”

Brain fingerprinting: a comprehensive tutorial review of detection of concealed information with event-related brain potentials

“…Mistakenly classifying brain fingerprinting as a form of lie detection (e.g., Verschuere et al 2009;Rosenfeld 2005) arises from a fundamental misunderstanding of the science and technology (Farwell 2013;Farwell and Makeig 2005;Farwell and Smith 2001). Brain fingerprinting detects information stored in the brain, not lies (Farwell 1992a(Farwell , 1994(Farwell , 1995b(Farwell , 2013Farwell and Donchin 1991;Iacono 2008).…”

“…In one study Rosenfeld and colleagues (Verschuere et al 2009) attempted to validate the procedure wherein subjects are told they will be ''lying'' when they press the instructed button in response to probes. The experimental instructions emphasized the salience of the probes in the ''lie'' condition, and not in the control condition.…”

The Role of Intention to Conceal in the P300-based Concealed Information Test

“…Allen and Iacono (1997) suggested that incentive to deceive increased the accuracy of detection in the P300-based CIT, at least when using a bootstrapping procedure. Recently, Verschuere et al (2009) reported that when participants responded deceptively (i.e., by pressing ''I don't recognize this name'' in response to his or her own name), a larger difference in P300 between the relevant and irrelevant items and a higher detection accuracy were obtained than when participants gave a truthful response (i.e., by pressing ''I recognize this name'' when shown their own name), where a smaller but detectable P300 difference occurred. These findings agree with findings of the CIT based on autonomic responses (Elaad and Ben-Shakhar 1989;Gustafson and Orne 1965), which showed that motivation to avoid detection was ineffective and often increased detection.…”

“…In the no secret condition, participants showed the chosen card to the experimenter beforehand and lost their motivation to conceal it during the CIT. Based on the previous studies examining the effect of motivation to conceal information on ERPs (Allen and Iacono 1997;Verschuere et al 2009), we predicted two outcomes. First, instruction to conceal the chosen card would enhance the difference in P300 amplitude between the chosen card and the unchosen cards.…”