RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN POLYGRAPH TECHNOLOGY

Are polygraphs able to detect lies? If so, how well? How do they work? This article provides background information on polygraph applications, accuracy, test scoring, and test formats. The Applied Physics Laboratory is using statistical techniques and personal computers in an effort to improve the scoring of polygraph data. Techniques for discriminating truth from deception are described. The results of an application of the first algorithm developed at APL are provided and compared with other techniques currently in use. The Laboratory is also developing a personal computer system for converting polygraph tracings on paper charts into digitized data suitable for analysis by the developing scoring methods.