Does MS condition effect a lie detector answer?

Answer 1

Multiple Sclerosis should not impact the answers you give on a polygraph machine. Polygraph machines measure physical reactions to questions, reactions such as pulse, blood pressure, galvanic skin response, respiration, and sphincter muscle activity.

If you have a bowel control problem, tell the examiner before you begin, as this may impact the response gathered from the seat pad. Also tell the examiner any medications you're taking, as some might impact things like pulse or blood pressure.

Another answers.com contributor wrote:

That's all standard Polygraph BS! MS can and does effect the results of a Polygraph. Involuntary shaking, tremors of the arms and legs are common MS symptoms and since the person being Polygraphed is NOT to move during the test then the involuntary movements will cause the test to be determined inconclusive or deceptive.

By the way, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled Polygraphs are not accurate and cannot be used in Court unless both the prosecuting attorney and the defendants attorney agree to let the results of the test be admitted as evidence.

Also, a Polygraph test measures nothing but pulse, blood pressure, galvanic skin response, respiration, and sphincter muscle activity. However, many different things can and do effect the results such as recalling a bad experience related to the issue at hand. Blood pressure can be elevated this way.

So any body believing a Polygraph test is lie proof or that MS doesn't effect the results are just stupid imbeciles.

Let's dissect each of these points one at a time:

MS can and does effect the results of a Polygraph. Involuntary shaking, tremors of the arms and legs are common MS symptoms and since the person being Polygraphed is NOT to move during the test then the involuntary movements will cause the test to be determined inconclusive or deceptive.

Let's clarify a few points: 1. Involuntary shaking of the arms and legs is NOT a common symptom of MS. Actually, tremors are less common than other MS symptoms. Additionally, tremors and other involuntary muscle movement, if it did register at all on the polygraph (which it usually does not, as the only sensors that detect movement are the seat pad and the respiration monitor), can be taken into consideration. 2. Involuntary muscle movements alone will not cause the test to automatically be inconclusive, and certainly would not be cause to flag the test as deceptive. At worst, answers would be invalidated and the test would need to be re-done.

the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled Polygraphs are not accurate and cannot be used in Court unless both the prosecuting attorney and the defendants attorney agree to let the results of the test be admitted as evidence.

Off-topic. This question asked about how MS affects a polygraph, not about the admissibility of polygraph tests.

many different things can and do effect the results such as recalling a bad experience related to the issue at hand. Blood pressure can be elevated this way.

Again, off-topic. Anyone, not just MS patients, can have this experience during a polygraph test.

So any body believing a Polygraph test is lie proof or that MS doesn't effect the results are just stupid imbeciles.

Beside the fact that these are ridiculous, harsh generalizations and personal opinion, they are not true. We know that polygraph machine results are not entirely reliable, but they are useful as part of the body of evidence which is used in a variety of settings, the least of which is in law enforcement. For example, most government agencies use a polygraph as part of the body of evidence considered when determining whether or not a person will receive access to classified information. No court proceedings are required in such a case, so the admissibility in court is moot.