The P300-based, complex trial protocol for concealed information detection resists any number of sequential countermeasures against up to five irrelevant stimuli

Abstract

We previously tested the P300-based Complex Trial protocol for deception detection against 2 and 4 countered of 4 irrelevant stimuli. The protocol detected 90-100% of these subjects with <10% false positives. We have also shown that Reaction Time (RT) to the first trial stimulus is increased (group effect) with countermeasure use. We also reported a new P900 component associated with countermeasure use when 2 of 4 irrelevants are countered. In the present study we report data from 4 new groups and re-present for comparison previously collected data to have 7 groups: an innocent control, a guilty group not using countermeasures, and 5 guilty/countermeasure groups who counter from 1 to all 5 stimuli presented (4 irrelevants plus a probe). Subjects were detected at rates varying from 92 to 100% in the 6 guilty groups (n = 12 or 13 per group). There was 1 false positive in 13 innocent subjects. Additionally, 41 of 60 CM users were identified with RT as using countermeasures. P900 appeared in the 2 groups using 2 and 3 countermeasures.