Detecting concealed autobiographical information using feedback and recognition P300 ERPs. Exploring the impacts of changed feedback proportions and social pressure in the fCIT

Authors

Cerys Parkinson-Johns
Grace Shillito
Callum Starr
Rosemary Wilmshurst

Document Type

Psychology Article

Abstract

The feedback concealed information test (fCIT) incorporates feedback on memory concealment performance within the classical CIT. Providing feedback facilitates the analysis of feedback related ERPs in addition to initial recognition related ERPs within each trial. Combining multiple ERPs aims to improve the reliability and efficiency of the test. The present study investigated the efficiency of combining recognition and feedback related P300 ERPs in detecting concealed birthdates in a personal item fCIT. Feedback proportions were altered to improve believability in feedback. Detection efficiencies using combined P300 amplitudes within this altered paradigm and the impacts of social pressures on feedback P300s were explored. Results indicated that with altered feedback proportions, both P300s could be used to categorise innocent and guilty participants with AUCs = 0.79-0.91. Across both measures, trials in which information had been concealed evoked the largest P300 potentials. Social pressure introduced via witness observation during the test impacted feedback P300 amplitudes differently for different stimulus types and warrant further investigation into social motivational factors in the fCIT. The study has theoretical implications, with feedback P300s being manipulated by increased social pressure during the test, independently of recognition P300s, providing support for theories that they may reflect separate mechanisms.

Publication Date

2025-12

Publication Title

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Volume

18

Issue

2

ISSN

1754-2383

Deposit Date

2025-12

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Parkinson-Johns, Cerys; Shillito, Grace; Starr, Callum; and Wilmshurst, Rosemary (2025) "Detecting concealed autobiographical information using feedback and recognition P300 ERPs. Exploring the impacts of changed feedback proportions and social pressure in the fCIT," The Plymouth Student Scientist: Vol. 18: Iss. 2, Article 11.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70156/1754-2383.1531
Available at: https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/tpss/vol18/iss2/11