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Anatomy of the Lie: An Exploratory Investigation Via the Quantitative EEG

NCJ Number
159136
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 22 Issue: 3/4 Dated: (1995) Pages: 179-210
Author(s)
K E Thornton
Date Published
1995
Length
32 pages
Annotation
The use of the quantitative EEG (electroencephalogram) to detect lies was explored using a special electrode cap and specialized video recording and audio equipment.
Abstract
Four subjects were enlisted as volunteers for the research and were paid for their participation. The procedure involved placing a specially designed Electro-Cap on the subject's head to obtain quantitative EEG readings. Subjects were asked to provide five stories regarding events in their lives which they did not want anyone else to know about at the time of testing. Quantitative EEG data were recorded simultaneously with dual video (one on the subject's face and the other directed toward the answer box) and dual audio recording (one channel for the examiner and the other channel for the subject). The methodology resulted in correct classification of 73 percent of both "true" and "false" events. For four events, results were too ambiguous to make a reliable prediction, but no event was incorrectly classified. The quantitative EEG method offers the ability to decide when it can predict accurately; when it can, it is 100 percent accurate if the criteria are met. Further research is needed with different subjects and methodological refinements to validate the quantitative EEG approach. 28 references, 12 tables, and 2 figures