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Tools For Detection of Deception - Voice Stress
Tools For Detection of Deception - Voice Stress
STRESS ANALYZER
INTRODUCTION
The objective of the Voice Stress Analysis is similar to a Polygraph test i.e. to assess whether the subject’s version
of an event is a true reflection of the facts.
In the field of deception detection, Lippold’s work has been interpreted to mean that conscious efforts to deceive
will result in measurable micro tremors.
VSA are computer based systems capable of measuring stress in a person’s voice as an indicator of deception.
Stressed speech is the speech that exhibits change in characteristics caused by mental stress such as anxiety or
fear.
All lie detection examination relies upon the fact that telling a significant lie will produce some degree of
psychological stress, which causes number of physiological changes.
Most VSA do not claim to detect lie but they do claim to detect these micro tremors which might be related to the
stress of trying to conceal or to deceive.
HISTORY
In the same way that any muscle reacts to stress by alternatively relaxing and tensing in fight-or-flight mode, the
muscles that control the voice do the same.
Once an individual enter into the FOF mode, the basic frequency is diminished and is significantly less.
The human voice isn’t affected by the changes in the muscle, and there is no sound involved; it is purely a muscle
change in response to stress that can’t be discerned by our ears but can be analyzed by technology when the
voice is captured via microphone.
Therefore this technology detects micro-tremors in the muscles of a person’s throat and larynx when they
speak while relaxed but disappear when speaker experiences stress.
HOW DOES A VOICE STRESS ANALYSIS WORK?
The subject being tested is required to complete a consent form giving permission for the test and stipulates who may
view the results.
The Voice Stress Analyst must explain the reason for the test together with the process to be followed.
It is imperative that the subject understands which questions will be asked and what the relation is to the incident.
The subject is asked a range of questions that include control questions.
The subject’s natural body behaviour is measured without any physical attachments unlike a polygraph test.
Only a qualified analyst may conduct a Voice Stress Analysis.
The natural behaviour of a person, who is experiencing stress, is fight, flight or freeze. This causes their throat muscles
to tighten which has an effect on their vocal cords and is picked up in a person’s voice.
The result to each question asked by the examiner is available immediately. This may lead the examiner to ask more
direct question pertaining to a specific object, person and or situation.
FORMULATING OF QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED
The outcome of the voice Stress Analysis needs to be carefully considered prior conducting the test. Therefore the
questions have to be carefully formulated and have to be event, incident and or subject specific.
It is important to remember that the questions need to be Yes/No questions.
Relevant questions, which were significant for obtaining the information from the object. The purpose of those
questions was to evoke stress, for example during the speaker’s deceit.
Irrelevant questions were used as a buffer between the relevant questions. The purpose of those questions was to
introduce some break and the speaker’s relaxation and they were not related to the topic of the discussion.
Control questions reveal the truth and their purpose is to demonstrate the comparison to the relevant question.
The recordings are carried out in good acoustic conditions in a quiet room with the dynamic microphone Shure SM
58 SE, the acoustic mixer Behringer Eurorack MX 802A and the external analogue-digital converter Creative Sound
Blaster Audigy 2 NX.
The signals are recorded with the sampling rate of 44,100 samples per second with 16 bit resolution.
THE ANALYSIS
The results indicate which questions were asked, and if the answers are true reflection of events based on the
reaction of a subjects voice.
Results can be as follows:
Deception – Subject is NOT telling the truth;
No deception – Subject IS telling the truth;
Subject not sure - Subject is confused;
ADVANTAGES
Allows for a more relaxed atmosphere as the subject is not hooked up to special sensors and pressure cuffs
Only a microphone is required.
Relies upon involuntary changes in the movements of vocal muscles which cannot be controlled by the subject.
Can be used in covert operations and then analyzed with CVSA later.
Cost effective, easier to use, less invasive.
DISADVANTAGES
The stress is a human reaction to the deception, but it can also be caused by other stimuli.
Therefore it would be beneficial to avoid intrusive techniques which demand physical connection of the subject to
the detectors. It evokes additional stress which can potentially change the results.