Combining recognition, conflict-monitoring and feedback-related ERPs to detect concealed autobiographical information

This study examined neural signatures associated conflict-monitoring, recognition and feedback processing in a novel feedback Concealed Information Test (fCIT), and also examined whether all the ERPs can be used to detect concealed autobiographical information. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups (guilty or innocent) and then tested in the fCIT while undergoing electroencephalograms (EEGs). Results show that the probe (participants’ name) elicited more negative N200, more positive recognition P300 than irrelevants among guilty participants, and feedback following the probe elicited a larger feedback P300 than feedback following irrelevants. Further, we found that all indicators, including conflict-monitoring N200, recognition P300, and feedback P300, could significantly discriminate between guilty and innocent participants. Combining them is highly effective in discriminating between guilty and innocent participants (AUC = 0.96). These findings not only shed light on the neural processing of fCIT, but also suggest the potential of using fCIT to detect concealed autobiographical information.