Polygraph operators focus on reactions occurring within what they term a "response onset window" that begins with the asking of the question. According to Section 3.6 of the August 2017 edition of the National Center for Credibility Assessment document, "Test Data Analysis":

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@ George W. Maschke

Something else I am curious about, does the examiner measure your reaction to when the question is being asked, when you actually give your answer, or both? I only ask because I feel like the strong reactions I had were to the questions being asked, not from the answer I was giving.

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Pretty much. To be sure, the polygraph does not actually measure signs of deception. It measures breathing, skin conductivity, heart rate, and something sort of like blood pressure. None of these indices have been shown to be systematically correlated with deception.

@ George W. Maschke

From what I've read it indeed does sound like it was a probable lie control question test. Is a post test interrogation always a part of the poly if you show any signs of deception?

Thank you for the input.

Without knowing more of the questions that were asked, I can't exclude the possibility that it was a probable-lie "control" question "test," but it sounds like it might have been relevant/irrelevant.

@ George W. Maschke

Is a post test interrogation always part of the polygraph even with a pre employment poly? You're response has me optimistic but I definitely feel like some of the questions spiked my heart rate.

There were about 12, every question begin with the following, Have you withheld any information about X. X was things like any sexual misconduct that would disqualify you from this position, any involvement in an unreported crime, about my current address, about any drug use, about any gambling issues, about anything ive stolen from the workplace. It was all the same question just about different subjects, I was expected to answer no each time.

The absence of any post-test interrogation strongly suggests that you passed. Hopefully, you'll be hearing good news soon.

If you could list all of the specific questions that you recall being asked while hooked up to the polygraph, I might be able to tell you more about the technique that was employed.

Took a pre employment poly recently that was unlike any of the types of polygraphs I've seen described on this site. Essentially I was asked about a dozen questions that all started with Have you withheld any information about X with X being things like illegal drug use, drinking, being involved in an unreported crime, etc. Before being asked the questions I went over them and was honest about each one and confessed to various things, my record is super clean and I've never done any drugs or really anything that bad. I was asked the questions well hooked up, then asked them again in a random order. The examiner then reviewed the charts and said if they were not readable we would do a 3rd chart. He came back in and said I was good to go, and that the results would be sent to my potential employer within 5 business days and I would hear from them if they had any questions. I shook his hand, thanked him and left.

Only other thing of note was the poly machine itself, looked older and was in a briefcase, no computer in the room. My potential employer had me schedule the poly and drug testing along with another day for fingerprinting, a web check, and a tour of the place I,ll be working in which I do tomorrow. Seems odd to me they would have me schedule all of this without at least passing the drug testing first. I interviewed very strongly and they definitely liked me a lot. This is for a corrections officer job. 

I feel like I definitely had a strong reaction to some of the questions where I confessed to things beforehand, I could feel my own heart rate change, I was definitely overthinking some of the questions and for this reason I'm worried I failed. I've never done a polygraph before and didn't do much research beforehand, overall it was an incredibly stressful experience.