A new theoretical perspective on concealed information detection.

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]