COMPONENTS OF A POLYGRAPH MACHINE ATTACHMENTS AND ITS FUNCTION

1. PNEUMOGRAPH – consist of two 10 inches convulated tubes fastened around the subjects
chest and abdomen. During a test, as circumference of the subject’s chest and abdomen increases
with each inspiration of air, the pneumograph tubes stretch: as the subject exhales, the
contraction it moves.
Function: Records the changes of breathing and respiration of the subject.

2. GALVANOGRAPH – consist of electrodes attached to the index finger and the ring finger of
the left hand or to the palmar and dorsal surface of the left hand, the left hand is suitable because
of the fact that the blood pressure cuff attachment is on the right arm.
Function: It records the skin resistance of the subject to a very imperceptible amount of
electricity.

3. CARDIOSPHYGMOGRAPH – consist of blood pressure cuff and rubber pump, and the
SPHYGMOMANOMETER, of the typed used by physician. The blood pressure cuff is fastened
around the subject’s right arm in such away as to ensure that the rubber portion of the cuff is
placed over the brachial artery for a more satisdactorily recording. When the rubber portion of
the cuff is placed over the brachial artery for a more satisfactorily recording. When the rubber
cuff is inflated, the alternating distension and contraction of the tissue of the subject’s arm, due to
the changes in blood pressure (and probably blood volume as well), cause an increase in pressure
within the cuff and in the associated belows.
Function: It records the changes of blood presure and pulse rate.

4. KYMOGRAPH – a motor that drives or pulls the chart paper under the recording pen at the
rate of 6 or 12 inches peer minute.
Function: It records the blood pressure/pulse, respiration and galvanic skin resistance are
recorded simultaneously and continuosly on the surface of moving graph paper driven by
Kymograph.

Limitations of the Polygraph:

1. It is an invaluable investigative aid, but never a substitute for an investigation.
2. It is not a lie detector, it is a scientific diagnostic instrument.
3. It does not determine fact, it records responses to that which the subject
knows to be true.
4. It is only as accurate as the examiner is competent.

Factors that affect the validity of lie detection:

1. Competence of the examiner.
2. Psychological makeup of the examinee.
3. The context in which the examination is given.

Principal uses of polygraph examination:

1. It is an aid to an investigator.
2. It speeds the process of investigation.
3. It eliminates innocent subject.
4. The investigation could concentrate to one subject to determine truth or deception.

The four(4) phases involved in the conduct of a polygraph tests are:

1. Initial interview with the investigator or person requesting the examination.
2. Pre-test with the person to be examined.
3. Conduct of the instrument test with the asking of a prepared list of questions previously
reviewed with the subject.
4. Post-test interview with the person examined.

Pre-test interview:

Before the actual testing is done, the examiner must first make an informal interview of
the subject, which may last, form 20 to 30 minutes.
 Purpose of the interview:

1. To determine whether the subject has any medical or psychiatric condition or has used drugs
that will prevent the testing.
2. To explain to the subject the purpose of the examination.
3. To develop the test question, particularly those of the types to be asked.
4. To relieves the truthful subject of any apprehension as well as to satisfy the deceptive subject
as to the efficiency of the technique.
5. To know any anti-socialactivity or criminal record of the subject.

Standard test questions:

a. Irrelevant questions – these are questions, which have no bearing to the case under
investigation. The question may refer to the subject’s age, educational attainment, marital status,
citizenship, occupation, etc. The examiner asks these types ofquestions to ascertain the subject’s
normal pattern of response by eliminating the feeling of apprehension.
b. Relevant questions – these are questions pertaining to the issue under investigation. They
must be unambiguous, unequivocal and understandable to the subject. They must all be related to
one issue or one criminal act. It is equally important to the subject/. Relevant questions must be
very specific to obtain an accurate result.
c. Control questions – these are questions which are unrelated to the matter under investigation
but are of similar nature although less serious as compared to those relevant questions under
investigations.

Supplementary tests:

Aside from the standard tests described above, the following special tests may be
performed and incorporated as a part of the standard procedure or maybe used as supplementary
tests depending upon the result of the standard test in order to draw a better conclusion.
a. Peak-of-tension test – the subject may be given this test if he is not yet informed of the details
of the offense for which he is being interrogate by the investigator, or by other persons or from
other sources like the print media.
 The examiner will prepare several questions, about seven, and one of them has a
specific bearing on the matter under investigation. The specific question must refer to some
details of the incident, which could not have been known to the subject.