A Preliminary Study of the Validity of the Concealed Information Test Using P300 and Reaction Time

P300과 반응시간을 이용한 거짓반응의 타당성에 대한 예비적 연구

Objectives : The authors sought to examine the differences in the number of P300 detected by subjects in experimental and control groups when exposed to relevant stimuli. In addition, the authors tried to determinethe subjects' reaction time when asked to respond to relevant stimuli. Methods : The subjects were 20 informed female volunteers aged 22-38 years (median age : 24). Relevant stimuli (concealed information) were created by unknowingly exposing the two groups to obscene pictures and semantic questions. The number of P300 detected and the length of reaction time were compared between the two groups. Results : Contrary to theauthors' expectations, there were no significant differences in the number of P300 detected or in the length of reaction time between the two groups. Conclusions : These results indicate that, unlike a polygraph test, concealed information tests adopting P300 and reaction time as major physiological responses ofsubjects exposed to meaningful personal information might not serve as a valid practical tool in the field of criminal psychology. However, further studies involving a greater number of subjects are needed before a final conclusion regarding the validity of this new type of concealed information test can be drawn.