CPE Physiological Monitoring 3

Question 1

In polygraph cardio recordings, relative blood pressure (RBP) is considered 'relative' because:

Accepted Answer

It records changes in arterial wall movement rather than true mmHg values

Answer

It measures only diastolic pressure, not systolic

Answer

It compares left-arm pressure to right-arm pressure simultaneously

Answer

It is calculated as a percentage of the subject's maximum heart rate

Question 2

Which autonomic branch is primarily responsible for producing the physiological responses that polygraph instruments measure during a deceptive response?

Accepted Answer

Sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight)

Answer

Parasympathetic nervous system (rest-and-digest)

Answer

Somatic motor system controlling voluntary muscles

Answer

Enteric nervous system governing gut motility

Question 3

A 'suppression' response in the EDA channel is characterized by:

Accepted Answer

A flattening or decrease in EDA activity compared to the resting level

Answer

A sharp upward deflection immediately following a question

Answer

Rhythmic oscillations in skin conductance unrelated to questions

Answer

A slow upward drift lasting 15–20 seconds post-question

Question 4

What is the significance of measuring BOTH thoracic and abdominal respiration channels in a polygraph exam?

Accepted Answer

It allows detection of differential breathing shifts that may indicate countermeasure use or suppression

Answer

Redundancy ensures one channel always produces a signal regardless of subject position

Answer

Only one channel is actually scored; the second is for equipment calibration

Answer

Abdominal breathing is monitored only in female subjects per APA guidelines

Question 5

A photoplethysmograph (PPG) sensor used in some polygraph systems primarily detects:

Accepted Answer

Volumetric changes in blood flow through peripheral capillaries via infrared light

Answer

Electrical impedance of the skin surface

Answer

Muscle electrical potentials from flexor tendons

Answer

Skin surface temperature using a thermistor

Question 6

In polygraphy, 'hyperventilation' before or during a test is considered significant because it:

Accepted Answer

Can suppress physiological reactions and lower CO2, potentially masking deceptive responses

Answer

Reduces EDA activity and eliminates relevant-question responses

Answer

Increases blood pressure to clinically dangerous levels

Answer

Has no effect on polygraph tracings because sensors are motion-compensated

Question 7

The 'inter-beat interval' (IBI) in cardiovascular polygraph data refers to:

Accepted Answer

The time elapsed between consecutive heartbeats (R-to-R interval)

Answer

The time between the systolic and diastolic peaks within a single heartbeat

Answer

The difference in amplitude between two successive cardiograph waves

Answer

The latency between a question stimulus and the first EDA peak