Psychophysiology Flashcards
7 cards from real CPE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Psychophysiology flashcards as text
The cardiovascular component of the polygraph most commonly records which parameter using a partially inflated blood pressure cuff?
Answer: Relative changes in blood pressure and pulse amplitude
The partially inflated cuff captures relative changes in blood pressure waveform and pulse amplitude rather than absolute pressure readings.
What is the primary physiological explanation for increased blood pressure observed in response to a deception-relevant stimulus during polygraph testing?
Answer: Sympathetic stimulation causing vasoconstriction and increased cardiac output
Sympathetic activation causes peripheral vasoconstriction and increases heart rate and contractility, elevating blood pressure in response to a perceived threat or stressor.
Which respiratory pattern change is most commonly associated with heightened sympathetic arousal during a polygraph examination?
Answer: Suppression of breathing or apnea followed by a deep breath
Arousal in response to a salient question often produces suppression or breath-holding followed by a compensatory breath, a pattern examiners look for on the respiratory tracing.
In psychophysiology, the 'orienting response' to a novel stimulus is characterized by which combination of reactions?
Answer: Decreased heart rate, skin conductance increase, and attentional focus
The orienting response (Pavlov's 'what is it?' reflex) involves cardiac deceleration, increased EDA, and enhanced sensory attention as the organism processes the novel stimulus.
What does the term 'general arousal' refer to in the context of polygraph psychophysiology?
Answer: A non-specific elevation in physiological activity across multiple response channels
General arousal describes a diffuse, non-specific increase in sympathetic nervous system activity manifested across cardiovascular, respiratory, and electrodermal channels simultaneously.
Which glands are responsible for the electrodermal response measured in polygraph examinations, and where are they most densely located on the human body?
Answer: Eccrine sweat glands, most dense on the palms and soles
Eccrine sweat glands, most densely packed on the palms and soles, are innervated by sympathetic cholinergic fibers and produce the electrodermal responses measured by polygraph.
How does the concept of 'response specificity' apply to polygraph psychophysiology?
Answer: Individual subjects tend to show their largest responses consistently in one physiological channel
Response specificity means that individuals differ in which channel (e.g., cardiovascular vs. electrodermal) most reliably reflects their arousal, requiring examiners to evaluate all channels.