Neural processes underlying faking and concealing a personal identity: An electroencephalogram study

• Pengcheng Zhang

  Department of Psychology, School of Education, Zhejiang International Studies University

• Lingyue Yan

  Department of Psychology, School of Education, Shanghai Normal University

• Qiangqiang Wang

  School of Teacher Education, Huzhou University

The detection of lies told about one’s identity challenges traditional methods considering characteristics of the lie. This study explored the neural activities underlying identity deception by using electroencephalogram recordings to promote the development of a detection tool. The participants (N = 18) were required to tell a lie or the truth about true and false identity information with the differentiation of deception paradigm. The results showed deceptive (vs. honest) responses to true identity information were associated with a prolonged reaction time and enhanced upper alpha oscillations as well as the attenuated P300 and theta activities, which indicates identity concealment engaged portent honest response control and reduced processing of self-relevant information. By contrast, deceptive (vs. honest) responses to false identity information were associated with absent reaction time cost and decreased alpha activities, which suggests identity faking involved low cognitive conflict but required some degree of behavioral regulation.

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