CPE Psychophysiology 3

Question 1

Which hormone released by the adrenal medulla during acute stress directly increases heart rate and prepares the body for 'fight or flight,' and is thus relevant to polygraph psychophysiology?

Accepted Answer

Epinephrine (adrenaline)

Answer

Cortisol

Answer

Aldosterone

Answer

Oxytocin

Question 2

What is the significance of the 'defense response' in polygraph psychophysiology, and how does it differ from the orienting response?

Accepted Answer

Defense response involves cardiac acceleration and vasoconstriction; orienting response involves cardiac deceleration and sensory attention

Answer

Both responses are identical in pattern but differ only in duration

Answer

Defense response involves only respiratory changes; orienting response involves only cardiovascular changes

Answer

Defense response is elicited by neutral stimuli; orienting response by threatening stimuli

Question 3

In polygraph testing, 'adaptation' of physiological responses across multiple presentations of the same question is used to assess what?

Accepted Answer

Whether the question itself is relevant and salient enough to produce differential responses

Answer

Whether the examinee is deliberately trying to deceive

Answer

Whether the instrument is properly calibrated

Answer

Whether the examinee has a medical condition affecting their autonomic nervous system

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the role of the hypothalamus in the psychophysiological responses measured during polygraph testing?

Accepted Answer

It serves as a relay center integrating emotional signals and coordinating autonomic output

Answer

It directly produces sweat gland secretions in response to questions

Answer

It suppresses sympathetic activity to prevent false responses

Answer

It records and stores memories that can be detected by the polygraph

Question 5

What does the term 'baseline' refer to in psychophysiological measurements during a polygraph examination?

Accepted Answer

The resting physiological activity level recorded before relevant questions are asked

Answer

The lowest recorded value across all channels during the entire test

Answer

The average response amplitude across all comparison questions

Answer

The examiner's pre-test assessment of the subject's anxiety level

Question 6

Which polygraph channel is most likely to show a sustained elevation rather than a phasic (brief, sharp) response during psychological stress?

Accepted Answer

Cardio (blood pressure cuff)

Answer

Electrodermal activity (EDA)

Answer

Thoracic pneumograph

Answer

Abdominal pneumograph

Question 7

Why is it important for a polygraph examiner to understand the concept of 'spontaneous fluctuations' in electrodermal activity?

Accepted Answer

They represent random non-stimulus-linked activity that must be distinguished from question-elicited responses

Answer

They indicate that the instrument is malfunctioning and needs recalibration

Answer

They are always caused by deliberate countermeasures by the examinee

Answer

They confirm that the examinee is being deceptive about all relevant issues