FORENSIC

POLYGRAPHY
 Prepared by: Ms. Joyce C. Colian
DEVELOPMENTS IN POLYGRAPHY
a) Personalities behind the development of Cardiosphymogrph
 FRANCIS FRANKE – Invented and use plethysmograph to determine the
influence of emotion and fear to cardiovascular activity and respiration (Ignacio-
2022).
 ANGELO MOSSO (1878) - Used plethysmograph in his studies of emotion and
fear and its effect on the heart and respiration. Conducted study to measure the
influence of fear using a scientific cradle, an instrument designed to measure the
flow of blood in different parts of the body.
 CESARE LOMBROSO (1895) - The first to used scientific instruments
(hydrosphygmograph, plethysmograph) for detecting deception during the
interrogation and investigation of criminal suspects.
  WILLIAM MOULTON MARSTON (1915) - Developed a discontinuous
systolic blood pressure test in 1915. He used an ordinary sphygmomanometer to
obtain periodic, discontinuous blood pressure to test a suspected person involved
in crime. Attempted to present the result of his testing technique as evidence in
US vs. Frye case in 1923.

b) Personalities behind the development of Pneumograph

 VITORRIO BENNUSSI – Conducted experiments using the pneumograph for
the detection of deception. He suggested that if the length of inspiration was
divided by the length of expiration, the ratio would be greater after lying than
before lying.
 HAROLD BURT - Partially confirmed the theory of Benussi for detecting
deception. Conducted study with Marston and Troland about word association
reaction, inspiration/expiration reaction and systolic blood pressure method in
1921.
 WILLIAM MOULTON MARSTON – Conducted experiments to record the
respiration and the time of the subject’s verbal responses.

c) Personalities behind the development of Electrodermal Channel (Galvanograph)

The term Galvanic Skin Response or Galvanic Skin Resistance was accorded to Luigi
Galvani, an Italian Physiologist who discovered electricity on dead frog. According to
Handler et al., 2010), Galvanic Skin Response, Galvanic Skin Reflex is an outdated term
that is no longer used in the science of psychophysiology. Electrodermal activity is the
recommended appropriate term as applied in modern polygraphy.
 EMIL DU BOIS-REYMOND, German physician and physiologist (1849) -
Discovered the flow of current from hands and feet by applying chemical
compound. He inferred that the human skin is a conductor of electricity. He
regarded that the observed phenomena were influenced potentially by muscle
activity.
 HERMANN (1881) - Discovered that the finger and palms areas of the hands
produces greater sweat compared to other body parts.
 ROMAIN VIGOUROX, electrotherapist (1879) - Conducted research on
emotionally disturbed patients by measuring the changes in skin resistance
through adjusted dosages of medications applied to them. Suggested the vascular
theory in electrodermal activity, which associated the changes in skin resistance
with changes in blood flow.
 CHARLES FERE, French neurologist (1888) - Observed the changes on
resistance in response to various form of stimuli using a direct current on
hysterical patients. His work leads to the discovery of exosomatic EDR recording.
He believed that the changes in resistance were result of vasomotor changes.
 IVAN TARCHANOFF, Russian physiologist (1889) - First to report changes in
skin potential measurements a several sensory and physical stimulation. Proposed
the secretory theory, associating the electrodermal activity with sweat glands
activity.
  STICKER (1887) - First to suggest using psychogalvanometer to forensic
problem. He Believed that the origin of the galvanic skin phenomenon is under
the influence of exciting mental impressions, and that the will has no effect upon
it.
 VERAGUTH (1907) - First to used galvanometer on his experiment with word
association. Also, the first to use the term psychogalvanic reflex. He believed that
the electrical phenomena are connected with sweat gland activity.
 WILLIAM M. MARSTON (1917) - conducted experiments with Troland and
Burt using galvanometer while designing deception techniques for the US Army
intelligence service to address war-time problems.
 RICHTER (1929) - First to proposed that endosomatic electrodermal activity is
caused by sweat gland activity and epidermal mechanism.
 WILSON (1930) - Created a non-recording galvanometer which he used with
Keeler in the investigations of numerous criminal suspects. He designed and built
a much-improved recording galvanograph in 1935.
 CHESTER DARROW (1932) - Added a skin resistance measurement to early
polygraphs and experimented with a galvanometer.
 Rev. WALTER SUMMERS (1936) – Used a pathometer in experiments and
limited actual case application and reported high accuracy of result on deception
test.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT EVENTS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF LIE DETECTION

 JOHN AUGUSTUS LARSON - Developed the cardio-pneumo psychograph
(Breadboard Polygraph), an instrument capable of continuously recording blood
pressure, pulse and respiration during examination. Larson conducted the first
polygraph examination of criminal suspect on April 19, 1921 at Berkeley Police
Department.
 LEONARDE KEELER – Invented a much-improved polygraph than of Larson’s
breadboard polygraph. The unit is capable of simultaneously recording changes in
blood pressure, pulse and respiration on a chart paper using inked pen. Added the
GSR component in the existing polygraph that records respiration, and relative blood
pressure as early as 1949. He opened the first polygraph school “Keeeler’s Polygraph
Institute in 1948.
 CAPTAIN CLARENCE D. LEE, Berkeley Police Department - Designed the
Berkeley psychograph similar to Keeler polygraph. The instrument consists of a chart
drive recording unit, a pneumograph, a cardiograph, and a stimulus signal unit.

 JOHN E. REID- Devised an instrument capable of recording muscular activity along

with changes in blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and GSR. Introduced the Reid
Control Question Technique (General Question Test) in 1947 and the Guilt Complex
Test in 1953.

 CLEVE BACKSTER – Developed the Backster Zone Comparison Test in 1960. The
technique is consisting of three testing formats, the Backster SKY, Backster
Exploratory and Backster You-Phase. Introduced the terms psychological set, super
 dampening concept, and anti-climax dampening concept as the central foundation of
his techniques. He also introduced the numerical approach in the evaluation of
polygraph charts and uniform chart markings. Backster established his School of Lie
detection in 1959.

 Dr. JOSEPH F. KUBIS, Fordham University conducted study about the

computerization of polygraph. His research also includes the numerical evaluation of
collected physiological data using the Peak of Tension Test.

 RICHARD O. ARTHER, Director of National Training Center for Lie Detection. –

The first polygraph examiner to record two pneumograph tracings. He introduced the
Arther ll polygraph manufactured by Stoeltinng in 1965. Also, the first to record two
galvanic skin response set in self centering and floating mode.

 Drs. DAVID RASKIN AND JOHN KIRCHER – Developed the Computer

Assisted Polygraph System (CAPS) at the University of Utah, which allowed a
modified analog polygraphs to interface with a computer. Their work leads to the
development of computerized polygraph system.

 Drs. DALE E. OLSEN AND JOHN C. HARRIS, John Hopkins University Applied
Physics Laboratory – Completed the software program for PolyScore in 1993.

 THE AMERICAN POLYGRAPH ASSOCIATION (APA) - Established in 1966,

with membership consisting of polygraph professionals from the law enforcement,
government and private sectors.

 THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POLYGRAPH INSTITUTE (DoDPI) -

Established in 1986 by virtue of Department of Defense directive 5210. 78. DoDPI
was renamed Defense Academy for Credibility Assessment (DACA) and was named
National Center for Credibility Assessment in 2010.

 EMPLOYEE POLYGRAPH PROTECTION ACTN (EPPA) - Enacted in the

United States in 1988 to addressed the growing complaints raised against the abused
on the use of polygraph.

REFERENCES:
 Malawis-Ignacio MGB (2022), Polygraphy Expanded A Modern Way of Lie Detection,
Wiseman Books Trading.
Lotivo, RS (2021) Polygraph Techniques, A Manual in Lie Detection, Wiseman Books Trading.