There are numerous sources of information pertaining to the uses of the polygraph instrument, and on the evolution of lie detection from past to present. One book that is very detailed on the history of polygraph, and which gives a completed detailed description of every aspect of polygraph is Forensic Psychophysiology using the Polygraph, which is written by James Allan Matte, Ph.D.

In the late 1800’s, Angelo Mosso studied emotion and fear, and the affects that these variables had on the heart and respiration. He studied the circulation of blood and breathing patterns that change under certain stimuli. Mosso created a cradle that was a heavy table with a fulcrum in the center of it, and it was used to measure the influences of fear on the human body. Mosso would measure changes in the flow of blood to the head, and he found that when fear increased the flow of blood to the brain also increased, and this change in blood flow was monitored with the use of this cradle.

In the late 1800’s, Cesare Lombroso, an Italian criminologist, applied blood pressure tests to actual criminal suspects and on several occasions, assisting the police in the identification of criminals through the use of these tests. Lombroso was one of the first to go outside of the laboratory setting to conduct experiments with blood pressure tests in actual criminal investigations. Lombroso used an instrument in his experiments called a hydro-sphygmograph, a water pressure recording that measured changes in blood pressure and pulse rate together.

In 1897, Sticker studied deception with the use of a galvanometer, and he was convinced of a relationship between reactions to the skin’s resistance to electricity and emotional changes. Sticker showed that when one is emotionally roused by looking at a picture, he or she would react with a definite increase in current, while whoever was unmoved by the picture, or who did not recognize the photograph, would have no skin reaction. In 1907, S. Veraguth was one of the first scientists to use the word-association test using the galvanometer, which is similar to Sticker’s test in that they are both applying the guilty knowledge theory. Veraguth showed that personally significant stimuli produced larger fluctuations than indifferent stimuli.

In the early 1900’s, Vittorio Benussi studied inhalation and exhalation ratios as a means of determining truth and deception, and he conducted experiments regarding the respiratory symptoms of lying. Benussi’s experiments were conducted using a pneumograph that recorded the subjects’ breathing patterns. Benussi concluded from his comprehensive experiments that even controlled breathing did not prevent the correct determination of lying when using the pneumograph. Benussi determined that lying caused an emotional change in the subject’s body that resulted in detectible respiratory changes indicative of deception.

In 1915, Dr. William Marston devised blood pressure tests that were conducted during questioning of individuals. In 1917, Marston conducted an experiment involving criminal defendants, and his conclusions using these blood pressure tests were in agreement with the evidence in all of the cases.

In 1921, John Larson, who worked for the Berkeley California Police Department, developed an instrument that measured respiration and cardiovascular changes simultaneously. This early form of a polygraph instrument was used in criminal cases with much success.

In 1925, Leonarde Keeler, who had worked with Larson, improved the polygraph instrument that was developed by Larson. The polygraph instrument developed by Keeler recorded relative changes in blood pressure and pulse rate, and measured respiration patterns. In 1938, Keeler included a third component to his polygraph instrument, which was developed in 1791 by Luigi Galvani, that measured changes in a person’s skin resistance to electrical current. Keeler also developed metal bellows that were connected to small fountain pens. Keeler designed a kymograph, which pulled chart paper below the small fountain pens at a constant speed. This polygraph instrument is similar to the polygraph instrument as we know it today, although computerized polygraph instruments differ from the mechanical polygraph instruments in the manner in which physiological responses are recorded. Keeler later created the first school to train prospective polygraph examiners with the skills they needed to conduct polygraph examinations. In 1938, Associated Research, Inc. of Chicago manufactured the first commercial polygraph instrument for Keeler, which was named the Keeler Polygraph Instrument.

Between 1986 and 1988, Dr. David Raskin and Dr. John Kircher developed the first U.S. made commercial polygraph system,which was introduced by Stoelting in 1991. The research for the computerized polygraph instrument was conducted at the University of Utah by Dr. Raskin and Dr. Kircher, with a grant from the National Institute of Justice.

<<Back | Home