There's really no difference.  Just don't worry about it and you'll be fine.

I take it nobody uses mental countermeasures then?Please my first polygraph ever is in 2 weeks and I need as much info as possible. 
Anxiety

Dimas,
Is it not required to alter your breathing in addition to using a countermeasure as describe in TLBTLD for control questions??? Are u suggesting this is incorrect?Anyone else with info in regards to breathing patterns.What if I maintained normal breathing throughout all questions, but just employed a regular countermeasure for the control question without changing my breathing pattern? Would this be enough to pass.Please help quick!!
Anxiety

dimas wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2004 at 8:55am:


Dimas,

On what basis do you state the above? Of course, the polygraph instrument will record alterations in breathing patterns. But I'm not aware of any evidence that (except for gross distortions such as breathing very slowly or rapidly, or taking very deep or shallow breaths), polygraph examiners can reliably differentiate between voluntarily and involuntarily produced changes in breathing patterns.

The respiratory channels are the only ones that the examinee can directly control. Considering that the scorable breathing reactions are known (see Chapter 4 of TLBTLD,) I see no reason not to exploit them in one's countermeasure strategy.

The problem with altering/controling ones breathing pattern lies more in the lack of experience of the examinee than anything else.   Most people will usually breath at a regular rate of 12-20 breaths per minute, with tidal volume, rate and rhythm remaining somewhat consistent in the absence of stimulus (I will address this shortly), or hypoxia.  

The examinee is already going to be nervous (stimulus) about the polygraph and will in turn have an increased heart rate and a subsequent need to increase his oxygen supply, so his breathing rate will also increase with a decrease in tidal volume, but the rhythm should remain almost the same.  An inexperience examinee will more than likely begin to alter the rhythm, tidal volume and rate to a point in which he is 1.  stimulating too much of a response(which will tip off the examiner) or 2.  Display a rhythm and rate which is out of the norm.  

Granted this is not a sure sign of countermeasure use, but enough to tip off an experienced examiner that something is or may be up.  

While an examinee with experience or practice may be able to pull it off without being caught most first time examinee's will be too nervous attempting to answer the question, use a mental/physical counter measure and control their breathing all at once.  Usually the one they mess up is the breathing because they are trying to breath at a rate, rhythm and volume that their body is not accustomed to and then begin to show very unusual patterns as they and their body attempt to compensate for this.

Dimas,
So what your saying is that if I leave my baseline breathing the same for all questions including the control I will be ok?If I just use a physical countermeasure without the breathing will this produce a "truthfull" chart? Anyone else have any thoughts on this matter except ISBS? Thanks for the help guys.

Anxiety

Nyla,

Polygraph countermeasures are techniques for passing (or beating) a polygraph examination. For details, see Chapter 4 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector.