P900: A Putative Novel ERP Component that Indexes Counter-Measure Use in the P300-Based Concealed Information Test

International Journal of Psycho-Physiology, Vol. 38, pp. 121-132, 2013

12 Pages Posted: 29 Aug 2013

See all articles by John B. Meixner Jr.

John B. Meixner Jr.

University of Georgia School of Law

Elena Labkovsky

Northwestern University - Department of Psychology

J. Peter Rosenfeld

Northwestern University - Department of Psychology

Michael R. Winograd

Northwestern University - Media, Technology and Society Program

Alexander Sokolovsky

Northwestern University - Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

Jeff Weishaar

Northwestern University - Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

Tim Ullmann

Northwestern University - Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

Date Written: April 13, 2013

Abstract

Counter-measures pose a serious threat to the effectiveness of the Concealed Information Test (CIT). In a CIT experiment, Rosenfeld and Labkovsky (2010) observed a previously unknown positive ERP component at about 900 ms post-stimulus at Fz and Cz that could potentially serve as an index of counter-measure use. Here, we explored the hypothesis that this component, termed P900, occurs in response to a signal that no further specific response is required in a trial, and could thus appear in counter-measure users that respond differentially depending on the stimulus that appears.

In the present experiments, subjects viewed four non-meaningful (irrelevant) dates and one oddball date. In three experiments, we examined P900’s antecedent conditions. In the first, the unique item was a personally relevant oddball (the subject’s birth date). In a second, the unique item was a non-personally relevant oddball (an irrelevant date in a unique font color). In a third, all dates were irrelevant. We speculated that the presence of an oddball would not be necessary for P900. All participants made counter-measure-like responses following two specific irrelevant dates. As hypothesized, P900s were seen to non-responded-to irrelevant and oddball stimuli in all subjects but not to responded-to irrelevant stimuli, and the presence of an oddball was not necessary for elicitation of P900. This finding has potential application in deception settings — the presence of a P300 accompanied by the presence of a P900 in response to non-countered stimuli could provide evidence of incriminating knowledge accompanied by the attempt to use counter-measures to evade detection.

Keywords: P300, P900, CIT, GKT, counter-measures

Suggested Citation

Meixner Jr., John B. and Labkovsky, Elena and Rosenfeld, J. Peter and Winograd, Michael R. and Sokolovsky, Alexander and Weishaar, Jeff and Ullmann, Tim, P900: A Putative Novel ERP Component that Indexes Counter-Measure Use in the P300-Based Concealed Information Test (April 13, 2013). International Journal of Psycho-Physiology, Vol. 38, pp. 121-132, 2013, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2316953

John B. Meixner Jr. (Contact Author)

University of Georgia School of Law ( email )

225 Herty Drive
Athens, GA 30602
United States

Elena Labkovsky

Northwestern University - Department of Psychology ( email )

2029 Sheridan Road
Swift Hall 102
Evanston, IL 60208
United States

J. Peter Rosenfeld

Northwestern University - Department of Psychology ( email )

Evanston, IL
United States

Michael R. Winograd

Northwestern University - Media, Technology and Society Program

70 Arts Circle Drive
Office of the Dean
Evanston, IL 60208
United States

Alexander Sokolovsky

Northwestern University - Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences ( email )

Evanston, IL
United States

Jeff Weishaar

Northwestern University - Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences ( email )

Evanston, IL
United States

Tim Ullmann

Northwestern University - Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences ( email )

Evanston, IL
United States

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