Detection of concealed knowledge via the ERP‐based technique Brain Fingerprinting: Real‐life and real‐crime incidents. (7th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Afzali, M. Usman; Seren‐Grace, Alex P.; Palmer, Robin W.; Neumann, Ewald; Makarious, Sarah; Wilson, Debra; Jones, Richard D.
• Is Part Of: Psychophysiology. Volume 59:Number 11(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-06-07
• Subjects: Brain Fingerprinting -- concealed information test -- ERP -- investigation -- P300; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14110
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0048-5772

Abstract

Abstract: Brain Fingerprinting (BFP) is an electroencephalogram‐based system used to detect knowledge, or absence of knowledge of a real‐life incident (e.g., a crime) in a person's memory. With the help of BFP, a potential crime suspect can be classified as possessing crime‐related information (Information‐Present), not possessing crime‐related information (Information‐Absent), or Indeterminate (BFP unable to classify a subject). In the lab setting, we compare the ground‐truth of a subject (i.e., real‐life involvement in an incident) against their classification based on BFP testing. We report two studies: replication of BFP with university students (Study 1) and replication of BFP with parolees (Study 2). In Study 1, we tested 31 subjects (24 females, seven males, mean age = 21.3) on either their own or another subject's real‐life incident. BFP correctly classified nine Information‐Present and 18 Information‐Absent subjects, but with one false positive and three exclusions. In Study 2, we tested 17 male parolees (mean age = 47.5) on their own or another parolee's crime incident. BFP correctly classified two Information‐Present and six Information‐Absent subjects. However, there was also one false positive classification and three Indeterminates. Additionally, we identified three subjects who could not complete the BFP testing and two exclusions. We posit that BFP is not yet at a stage to be considered a robust and accurate crime‐detection tool as claimed in former articles. Nevertheless, after addressing the limitations, BFP has considerable potential as an information detection tool in forensic investigations, especially for detecting idiosyncratic crime‐relevant knowledge in a perpetrator, in addition to helping to confirm the accuracy of a suspect's claim of innocence. Abstract : Despite claims of 100% accuracy by the proponents of Brain Fingerprinting, our findings include the first documented misclassifications, Indeterminates, and inabilities to carry out the Brain Fingerprinting test. Notwithstanding, all other subjects were correctly classified by the knowledge detection tool. Hence, we consider Brain Fingerprinting has many clear intrinsic strengths and we contend that, with further refinements and independent validations, it has considerable potential as a powerful new tool in forensic investigations.