Polygraphy:

ANS
Hermie Terrence I. Reodava

Role of the ANS in the

Polygraph Examinations
Conscious mental effort of a mentally
normal person lie causes
physiological changes w/in a body
physiological effectors in polygraph
examination are the Autonomic
nervous system

Autonomic nervous
system
Responsible for regulating
mechanism that corrects the
slightest deviation from a particular
standard within very fine limits
This if found at the center of the
brain and its central controls is in the
hypothalamus

What is hypothalamus?
A group of nerve cells of the brain
that reflexes those that we cannot
control consciously
Such as: heartbeat, pulse rate,
increase and decrease in blood
pressure and the expansion and
constricting of the arteries

When senses detects threat

to well being, what
happens?

in Polygraph testing:

The hypothalamus immediately activates the sympathetic

subdivision of the autonomic nervous system

Hypothalamus activated:
Prepares the body for fight or flight
Causes the adrenal glands to secret
hormones
Epinephrine
Norepinephrine

Blood will be distributed to areas of the

body needed to meet the emergency
Brain or larger muscle group

Sympathetic system is
activated:

External Observable
signs and symptoms of
Lies/Deception
1. Stammering/sweating to or before God that
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

he/she did not commit the offense

Pointing his/guilt to somebody else
Refuses to answer question thru alibis and
excuses
All the time absent-minded
Always requesting for repetition of questions
Often asks counter-questions and counterquerries

7. Blushing, paling or profuse sweating of

forehead
8. Dilation of the eyes, protrusion of eyeballs
and elevation of upper eyelids
9. Squinting of the eyes, protrusion of eyeballs
and elevation of upper eyelids
10.Twitching of the lips and or excessive
winking of the eyes
11.Failure to look the inquirer straight into the
eyes

12.Excessive activity of the Adam's apple and the

vein at the temple due to dryness of throat and
mouth. Sometimes with shivering of the nose or
nostrils
13.A peculiar monotone of the voice or a forced
laugh
14.Rolling of eyeballs from one direction to another
15.Often asks permission to go comfort rooms, etc
16.Fidgeting, tapping or drumming of fingers on
the chairs or the other surfaces

17.Swinging of legs or one leg over the other

18.Unnecessary movement of hands and
feet (like scratching, nail biting, thumb or
finger sucking)
19.Pulsation of the artery in the neck
20.Incoherence, trembling and sweating of
the whole body

Non-verbal Behavioral
Assessment
Corresponding line of suspect
assessment is the non-verbal
Evaluation of body of natural,
unintentional, often instinctual
physical responses to certain
stimuli

Sigmund Freud
Stated that:
He that has no eyes, and ears to hear,
may convince himself that no mortal can
keep a secret. If his lips are silent, he
chatters with his fingertips; betrayal
comes out of him from every pore

Categories of non-verbal
Behaviors
Emblem:
Expresses the entire communication
No spoken words necessary
Accurate clues of persons true
feelings and statements

Illustrators:
Assist the listener better understand
the verbal conversation
Indicate consistency between nonverbal and verbal messages
Illustration increases
Probability of truthfulness increases

Adapter:
No purpose in helping the verbal
communication
Indicators of deception
Occur as hand gestures and body
position
Includes rubbing, stroking,
massaging or touching of the body
or face

Areas to Note when assessing Nonverbal Behaviors

1.General Posture
2.Head and Face
3.Eyes
4.Arms and Hands
5.Sense Arousal Gestures