Certified Protection Professional (CPP) Practice Exam

What is the most important measure of stress recorded during a polygraph?

1. Blood pressure

2. Heartbeats

3. Respiration rate

4. Skin conductivity

The correct answer is: Heartbeats

The most important measure of stress recorded during a polygraph examination is the heartbeat or heart rate. This measurement is significant because variations in heart rate can indicate a physiological response to stress, anxiety, or deception. When an individual is under stress, it is common for their heart rate to increase as part of the body's fight-or-flight response. Although blood pressure, respiration rate, and skin conductivity are all valuable indicators of physiological responses, heartbeats are particularly critical in polygraph tests, as they provide direct insight into an individual's autonomic nervous system activity. It's important to observe how these metrics interact during the questioning process, as significant deviations in heart rate from baseline can suggest stress associated with the truthfulness of the responses given. In this context, when interpreting the results of a polygraph, the heart rate serves as a primary indicator of emotional arousal, making it essential for the examiner to focus on this measure alongside others to gain a comprehensive view of the subject’s physiological state during the test.