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Deception, a complex aspect of human behavior, is inherently difficult to detect directly. A valid alternative involves memory detection, particularly through methods such as the Reaction-Time based Concealed Information Test (RT-CIT). The RT-CIT assesses whether an individual possesses specific knowledge by presenting various probe (familiar) items amidst irrelevant (unfamiliar) items. The task-required "unfamiliar" response to probes may induce a response conflict. Resolving this conflict, by inhibiting the automatic "familiar" response, takes time and slows probe RTs–a phenomenon known as the RT-CIT effect. Notably, secondary psychopathy is characterized by disinhibition and impulsivity, traits which may hinder the ability to effectively manage experienced conflict. Therefore, we hypothesized that secondary psychopathy would be associated with an elevated RT-CIT effect. To investigate this hypothesized relation, we conducted a pre-registered study (n = 86, student sample), employing a novel CIT paradigm that incorporates no-go trials to assess response inhibition capacity. Psychopathic traits were measured using the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy (LSRP) scale, while the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) assessed impulsivity. The novel CIT paradigm revealed impressive detection efficiency. However, contrary to our expectations, we observed no significant correlation between the RT-CIT effect and secondary psychopathic traits (BF01 = 6.98). This cautiously suggests that while secondary psychopathic tendencies do not improve RT-CIT validity, they also do not compromise it. Although future investigations should explore more diverse contexts and populations, this tentative finding is reassuring and underscores the robustness of the CIT paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concealed information test (CIT) is a highly valid method for the detection of concealed knowledge. It relies on differential physiological responses to critical compared to control items. Guilty individuals may however attempt to distort these reactions by using countermeasures (CMs). The present preregistered study compared two types of countermeasures: (a) a classical countermeasure designed to affect orientation to the critical items and, as such, skin conductance responses (SCRs), and (b) a novel countermeasure designed to affect inhibition attempts and, as such, the respiration line length (RLL) and heart rate (HR). The classical countermeasure reduced the SCR CIT effect, supporting the idea that guilty individuals can facilitate orientation. The novel countermeasure did not affect the RLL and HR measures. This suggests that guilty individuals might not be able to block their instinctive drive to inhibit physiological arousal. Thus, the RLL and HR seem more suitable for real-life cases where countermeasures are suspected. General Audience Summary: Everyone has something to hide. Although most secrets are trivial and innocent, some can pose a threat to society and need to be unveiled. Researchers have therefore developed the so-called concealed information test (CIT). This test checks whether individuals have knowledge of certain critical details (such as the murder weapon). Importantly, when faced with these details, a unique physiological response pattern occurs—skin conductance increases because we start sweating more heavily, while respiration and heart rate reduce. In light of this, one may wonder whether it is possible to willingly distort these physiological responses. In other words, can one fool the CIT and be classified as having "no knowledge"? To explore this question, the current experiment tested two distortion methods—each method was designed to affect a single cognitive process known to be involved in the CIT (namely, orienting and inhibition). As expected, skin conductance was affected by the first method. However, neither method affected respiration or heart rate. These results confirm the theoretical idea that different physiological measures in the CIT reflect different cognitive processes. Moreover, they suggest that respiration and heart rate are more robust to faking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concealed information test (CIT) was designed to detect concealed knowledge. It does so by measuring differential physiological and behavioral responses to concealed, compared to control, items – i.e., the CIT effect. Although the CIT has gained extensive empirical support in laboratory studies, scientific validity requires also a theoretical understanding of the method's underlying mechanisms. In this article, we present a new theoretical perspective. Specifically, we elaborate and clarify several features of Orienting Response (OR) theory, which has been the dominant theory in this domain. Importantly, we suggest for the first time that the voluntary (rather than the involuntary) OR modulates the CIT effect. Second, we argue that motivational‐emotional accounts of the CIT effect are consistent with OR theory and cannot be considered as alternative approaches. Finally, we discuss some more recent developments which highlight the idea that different physiological measures reflect different underlying mechanisms – an idea dubbed as response fractionation. The present article shines a new light on the theoretical basis of the Concealed Information Test (CIT). We discuss orienting response (OR) theory, suggesting that the voluntary, rather than the involuntary OR modulates the CIT effect (i.e., unique responses to concealed items). Moreover, we argue that motivational‐emotional theories can be integrated within OR theory, and, emphasize the idea of response fractionation, suggesting that different mechanisms (orienting, and inhibition) drive the responding of different physiological measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When trying to conceal one's knowledge, various ocular changes occur. However, which cognitive mechanisms drive these changes? Do orienting or inhibition—two processes previously associated with autonomic changes—play a role? To answer this question, we used a Concealed Information Test (CIT) in which participants were either motivated to conceal (orienting + inhibition) or reveal (orienting only) their knowledge. While pupil size increased in both motivational conditions, the fixation and blink CIT effects were confined to the conceal condition. These results were mirrored in autonomic changes, with skin conductance increasing in both conditions while heart rate decreased solely under motivation to conceal. Thus, different cognitive mechanisms seem to drive ocular responses. Pupil size appears to be linked to the orienting of attention (akin to skin conductance changes), while fixations and blinks rather seem to reflect arousal inhibition (comparable to heart rate changes). This knowledge strengthens CIT theory and illuminates the relationship between ocular and autonomic activity. When trying to conceal one's knowledge, various ocular changes occur. This study shows that different ocular measures in the Concealed Information Test (CIT) are driven by different cognitive mechanisms. While pupil size is related to the orientation of attention, fixation and blink measures reflect arousal inhibition. These results underpin recent findings of a response fractionation in the CIT and elucidate the interplay of autonomic and ocular responses during recognition and concealment of information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Concealed Information Test (CIT) utilizes psychophysiological measures to detect crime‐related knowledge in a suspect's memory. In other words, it can discriminate between knowledgeable (guilty) and unknowledgeable (innocent) suspects. The majority of CIT research is however conducted in controlled laboratory settings, which are more resistant to external influences than realistic forensic settings. Such influences include retroactive memory interferences which may threaten the validity of the CIT. One notable example is the misinformation effect – retroactive memory distortions caused by exposure to misleading information regarding a past event. The current study is a constructive replication of Volz et al. (J Forensic Sci 2017;63:1419) examining the effects of misleading information on the CIT. Participants underwent a three‐stage experiment including a mock crime, exposure to misleading information, and a CIT. Results show that when misleading information was presented, explicit memory of the mock crime was reduced, but the physiological responses to the critical CIT items were only partially attenuated. This could suggest that the detection of crime‐relevant information, using skin conductance and respiration measures, might be possible even when suspects are exposed to misleading information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Concealed Information Test (CIT) aims to detect concealed information through differential physiological and behavioral responses to the concealed items. Although extensive experimental research has demonstrated the empirical validity of the CIT, the external validity of these studies has been questioned. One essential difference between experimental setups and realistic contexts is the voluntary act of committing the crime and concealing the critical (crime-related) items. The present study examined whether the detection efficiency of the CIT alters under conditions of free choice to commit a mock crime. In the 'choice' condition, participants chose to perform a mock crime or a computerized task, while in the control, 'instructed' condition participants were instructed either to commit the mock crime or a computerized task. The results revealed no significant differences in the detection efficiency between the two conditions in electrodermal, respiration, and reaction time measures. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Concealed Information Test (CIT) provides a valid tool for psychophysiological detection of concealed knowledge. However, its precise theoretical underpinnings remain a matter of debate. The differential physiological responses elicited by concealed, relevant items, relative to control items, were traditionally explained as reflecting an orienting response (OR). According to an alternative account, these responses reflect attempts to inhibit arousal. The present study examined whether and to what extent CIT detection efficiency is affected by instructions aimed at manipulating arousal inhibition (AI). One hundred and forty-eight undergraduate students completed a CIT, while electrodermal, cardiac, and respiratory measures were recorded. Half of the participants were requested to imagine that they are suspected of committing a crime and were motivated to avoid detection (presumably eliciting both OR and AI), while the other half were requested to imagine that they are witnesses of a crime and were motivated to be detected (presumably eliciting OR only). All participants were further requested to remain silent throughout the test. In both conditions, concealed items led to a similar increase in skin conductance as compared to the control items. However, the typically observed heart rate deceleration and respiratory suppression were found in suspects, but not in witnesses. These data imply that different mechanisms drive the responding of different psychophysiological measures used in the CIT, with skin conductance reflecting OR, and heart rate and respiration primarily reflecting AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Concealed Information Test (CIT) uses psychophysiological measures to determine the presence or absence of crime-related information in a suspect's memory. We conducted a meta-analysis on the validity of the CIT based on four physiological measures-skin conductance response (SCR), respiration line length (RLL), changes in heart rate (HR), and enhanced amplitudes of the P300 component of the event-related potential (P300). This meta-analysis relied on laboratory studies that used either the mock-crime or the personal-item paradigm. Results showed a mean effect size (d*) of 1.55 for SCR, 1.11 for RLL, 0.89 for HR, and 1.89 for P300. However, P300 outperformed SCR only in the personal-item paradigm, but not in the mock-crime paradigm. Motivation level, number of questions, publication year, and the inclusion of innocent participants emerged as significant moderators for the SCR, while only the type of paradigm used moderated the P300 effect., (Copyright © 2014 Society for Psychophysiological Research.)