TECHNOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION

TECHNIQUES IN FORENSIC SCIENCE

 PROGRESSIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN
FORENSIC SCIENCE
• technology is increasingly driving our lives and
simultaneously offering new means of human
behavior traceability
• technology has infiltrated over every aspect of our
lives, including solving crimes.
• as criminal investigations started revolving more
around evidence based and rational approaches
forensic scientists are developing innovative and
progressive technologies to conduct investigations
and examine evidence
 PROGRESSIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN
FORENSIC SCIENCE
• progressive technologies accord a voice to
present it in court of law for seeking justice
• latest technologies and techniques include
DNA finger printing, The Polygraph, Voice
identification Brain mapping, Narco Analysis
and Brain Electrical Oscillation Signature
• is a term meant to convey the notion that
each person’s DNA is different as a person’s
fingerprint
• criminal may wear a glove or take other
precautions in order to avert to leave behind
any fingerprints but it is almost impossible for
a person without leaving behind some trace of
DNA behind
• DNA is in every cell of a person’s body and no
one on planet have exact DNA, unless
persons are identical twins
• DNA fingerprinting technique was developed
by British Professor Sir Alec Jeffery, in 1984
which opened new area of science. DNA
fingerprinting has revolutionized forensic
investigation
• DNA fingerprinting is also called as DNA
profiling or forensic genetic a technique
applied by forensic scientist
• DNA fingerprinting is a process where specific
DNA pattern called profile is obtained from a
person or sample of bodily tissue
• DNA profile is set of values of group of
genetical markers identified in an individual
DNA by DNA profiling
• Chromosomes contains markers where short
DNA sequences are repeated multiple time
• number of repeats at each marker varies from
person to person, and each person has two
copies or alleles of each marker, one inherited
from mother and another from father
• DNA fingerprint is a technique involving
chemically dividing DNA in fragments and
then matching that identity profile with
patterns obtained from similarity testing a
suspect bodily specimen
• said to be process of determining DNA
characteristics
• DNA
• human body is composed of trillions of cells and cells
contains various organelles which nucleus,
mitochondria, lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum and
Golgi apparatus
• inside nucleus chromosomes are found
• each chromosome is made up of DNA
• DNA is our blue print, basis of life and regulates gene
expression - whole set of DNA or chromosome is
known as genome
• human somatic cells have 23 pairs of chromosomes
out which 22 pairs are autosomes and 1 pair of sex
chromosomes
• each individual inherits 23 chromosomes from
biological father and 23 from mother on fertilization
of ovum and sperm
• chromosomes contain genetical material genes
which are responsible for transmission of heredity
• genes are made up chemical molecules called DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid)
• each chromosome consists of two long linear DNA
molecules, polymer being hydrogen bonded via
specific nucleotide pairing with coiled as double helix
which is spiral in nature ad looks like a spiral staircase
• helix is structurally stabilized by nuclear protein called
histones, the complex of DNA, and histones being
referred to a chromatin
• chromosomes are continuous strand of DNA
• each nucleotide is composed of phosphate,
deoxyribose sugar and organic nitrogen base
• bases are Adenine (A), Guanine (G), Cytosine (C) and
Thymine (T)
• bases of one strand are connected to bases of other
strand by hydrogen bonds while adjacent nucleotides
are linked with each other by covalent bonds
• A combine only with T and G combines only with C
DNA molecule resemble a twisted rope ladder with
four kinds of stair steps: A-T, T-A, C-G or G-C
• There are three hydrogen bonds between G and C ad
two bonds with A and T
• two stands of DNA helix run in opposite direction
 PROCESS OF DNA
FINGERPRINTING
• using DNA to distinguish between two
individuals is a tricky matter as all human
beings are 99.9 identical in their genetic
makeup but a DNA fingerprint is a piece of
DNA so distinct that it can prove a person’s
identity
 PROCESS OF DNA
FINGERPRINTING
• differences in remaining 0.1 percent hold
important clues for differentiation as inherited
regions of our DNA varies from person to
person
• procedure for creating DNA fingerprint
comprises of first obtaining a sample if cells
such as skin, hair or blood cells which contains
DNA
• process followed are
 PROCESS OF DNA
FINGERPRINTING
• 1. Extraction: DNA extraction is a procedure used
to isolate DNA from nucleus of cells by using physical
and chemical methods
• 2. Restriction Enzymes: DNA fingerprinting
requires that DNA be cut up into small fragments -
Restriction enzymes are used to cut DNA sequences
at specific area - Different restriction enzymes
recognize and cut different DNA sequences - For
example, ECoRI (Eco R one) endonuclease enzyme
always cut DNA at GAATTC as G|AATTC, CTTAA|G
 PROCESS OF DNA
FINGERPRINTING
• 3. Electrophoresis: After DNA sequence being cut
with restriction enzymes it is separated by using gel
electrophoresis
• Electrophoresis is a technique used to separate DNA
based on their size and electrical charge
• An electrical current is used to move molecules to be
separated through gel
• molecules travel through pores in gel allowing
smaller molecules to move faster than larger
molecules.
 PROCESS OF DNA
FINGERPRINTING
• 4. Transfer to membrane: Once DNA had been
sorted out, DNA fragments are transferred out of gel
to surface of nylon membrane
• 5. Incubation with labelled probes: nylon
membrane is incubated with radioactive probes
• probes are small fragments of minisatellite DNA
tagged with radioactive phosphorus
 PROCESS OF DNA
FINGERPRINTING
• minisatellite is a tract of repetitive DNA in tandem
that can vary in unit length from 6 to 100 bases
These units can be repeated two to several hundred
times at each minisatellite
• Minisatellite is also known as variable number of
tandem repeats (VNTR)
• 6. X-ray: Now nylon membrane is exposed to x-
ray and on photographic film radioactive DNA
sequence is produce a characteristic banding pattern
or DNA fingerprint
PROCESS OF DNA
FINGERPRINTING
 METHODS OF DNA
FINGERPRINTING
• DNA fingerprinting is a method used to identify
an individual from a sample of DNA by looking at
unique patterns in their DNA
• methods used in DNA fingerprinting
 Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism
(RFLP)
 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
 Short Tandem Repeats (STR)
 Mitochondrial DNA Analysis (mt DNA)
 Y Chromosome DNA Analysis
 RESTRICTION FRAGMENT
LENGTH POLYGRAPH (RFLP)
• is a technique that exploits variation in homologous
DNA sequence known as polymorphisms in order to
distinguish individuals, or to pinpoint location of
genes within a sequence.
• process begins with isolation of DNA from sample
material to be tested which is purified
• purified DNA is digested using restrictive
endonucleases enzyme
 RESTRICTION FRAGMENT
LENGTH POLYGRAPH (RFLP)
• these enzymes recognize specific sequence in double
strand DNA and cut DNA at this site into various
fragments called as Restrictive Fragment Length
Polymorphism
• if there is a sequence of GAGC that occur repeatedly
in a sample DNA
• restrictive endonuclease that recognizes GAGC
sequence cuts DNA at every repetitive of the GAGC
pattern
 RESTRICTION FRAGMENT
LENGTH POLYGRAPH (RFLP)
• if one sample repeats GAGC sequence 4 times while
another sample repeats 2 times, length of fragments
generated by enzyme for two samples will be
different
• RFLPs are produced due to variations in bundles of
DNA - these variations in RFLPs are due to presence
of variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs)
• tandem repeats are sequences which are located
one after another into genome
• VNTRs varies from individual to individual
 RESTRICTION FRAGMENT
LENGTH POLYGRAPH (RFLP)
• DNA is separated based on size - when an electric
field is applied fragments move towards positive
electrodes - smaller fragments move faster through
gel leaving larger ones behind and thus DNA samples
are separated into distinct bands on gel
• separated DNA fragments are drawn out of gel using
nylon membrane to hybridize with a labelled probe
that is specific to one VNTR region
• technique of transferring and hybridizing DNA onto
nylon membrane is known as Southern blotting
 RESTRICTION FRAGMENT
LENGTH POLYGRAPH (RFLP)
• after hybridization with radioactive probes, X-ray film
is developed from Southern blotting and only area
where radioactive probe binds will show up on film
• now these bands when compared with other known
samples will give final result of DNA fingerprinting
• RFLP is considered more accurate than Polymerase
Chain Reaction as size of sample used is more while
however it requires longer time to complete analysis
and too costly
• is used when very small amount of DNA or a partially
degraded biological material is available
• small amount of DNA is amplified into millions or
billions of copies using Therma TAQ polymerase.
• technique involves using short DNA sequence called
primers to select portion of genome to be amplified
• primers act as starting point for DNA duplication
process - primers bind to template by
complementary base pairing
• when primers are bound to template, they
can be extended by polymerase and region
lies between them will get copied
• process is carried out in repeated cycles - initial step
is denaturation or isolation of two strands of DNA
molecule by heating sample to 95 degrees
centigrade above - provides single stranded template
for the next step
• each strand is a template on which a new strand is
built
• later temperature is reduced to about 55 degrees
centigrade during which primers can anneal to
template
• then temperature is again raised to 72 degrees
centigrade which causes DNA polymerase to extend
primers and copy two separate strands of DNA
• TAQ polymerase utilizes nucleotides by inserting
them opposite appropriate base, thereby ensuring
integrity of DNA’s base pair complementarily
• number of copies doubles after each cycle
• usually, cycle is repeated 30 or more times to
produce sufficient amount of DNA
• results of a PCR reaction are usually visualized using
gel electrophoresis
• technique in which fragment of DNA are pulled out
through a gel matrix by an electric current and it
separates DNA fragment according to size
• DNA fragment of same length form a band on gel
which can be visualized by eye if gel is stained with
DNA binding dye
• following is PCR reaction producing a 400-base pair
(bp) fragment would look like this on gel
• is sensitive and quicker method which is now widely
used by all Laboraties
• is highly specific, easily automated and capable of
amplifying minute amount of samples even if
biological material is degraded
• is less specific than RELP
• current techniques for DNA profiling uses
polymorphisms called Short Tandem Repeats (STRs)
• STRs are regions of non-coding DNA that contains
repeats of same nucleotide sequence approximately
a half dozen to several dozen times-example,
GATAGATAGATAGATAGATAGATA-a STR where
nucleotide sequence of GATA is repeated six times
• (STRs) analysis is used to compare allele repeats at
specific loci in DNA
• STR loci consists of repetitive element of 3 – 7
nucleotides
• number of repeat units is highly variable among
individuals, which offer a high power of
discrimination when analyzed for identification
• STRs is also referred as microsatellites
• STRs uses polymorphic regions that have short
repeated sequence of DNA
• polymorphisms in STRs are due to the different
number of copies of the repeat element that can
occur in a population of individuals.
• STR loci are targeted with sequence specific primers
and are amplified using PCR
• DNA fragments that results are then separated and
detected using electrophoresis
• overall length of the STR is measured to determine
number of repeats present in each allele found in
DNA profile
• different STR based DNA profiling system are in use
in different countries
• in USA 13 core loci is widely, in United Kingdom
17core loci while 9 STR have been identified for
Indian population
• criminal cases and other type of forensic uses STRs
analysis
 MITOCHONDRIAL DNA
ANALYSIS (MT DNA)
• Mitochondria are cellular organelle which is both
different and separate from the nuclear genome
• Mitochondrial genome is maternally inherited
without undergoing recombination
• Mitochondrial DNA test traces a person matrilineal
or mother’s line ancestor using DNA of his or her
mitochondria
• analysis can be used to examine DNA from samples
that cannot be analyzed by RFLP or STRs
 MITOCHONDRIAL DNA
ANALYSIS (MT DNA)
• analyzes variety of forensic samples such as bones,
teeth, hair and as well as other biological samples
where DNA is low
• mt DNA analysis process commences with extraction
of DNA and separation of other material from
sample, DNA is then purified and isolated
• DNA is amplified using polymerase chain reaction
which involves heating and cooling to produce
multiple copies
 MITOCHONDRIAL DNA
ANALYSIS (MT DNA)
• next is sequencing of amplified mt DNA which is
done by special fluorescently labelled nucleotides
• sequencing method is termed as Sanger Method
• strands of DNA is then sorted by length using gel
electrophoresis
• fluorescence detector then reads labels at end of
each strand of DNA and computer software
reconstructs the mt DNA sequence
• Finally, sequence analysis is compiled and
interpreted
 MITOCHONDRIAL DNA
ANALYSIS (MT DNA)
• mt DNA test can be done with a small quantity of
DNA, it is well suited for maternity testing,
investigation of cases that have gone unsolved for
many years, investigation of missing persons
• is an excellent technique for obtaining information
where nuclear DNA analysis is not feasible
Y Chromosome DNA Analysis
• Chromosome are bundles of tightly coiled DNA
within nucleus of almost every cell in the body
• Y chromosome passes from father to son virtually
unchanged
• Y Chromosome DNA test is used to explore a man’s
patrilineal or direct father’s patrilineal or direct line
ancestry.
• Y-Chromosome is one of chromosomes contains
sequences of repeating nucleotide known as short
tandem repeats
Y Chromosome DNA Analysis
• number of repetitions varies from one person to
another and a particular number of repetitions is
known as allele of the marker
• forensic Y-chromosome profile typically consists of
alleles between 15 and 30 short tandem repeat loci
• Y-chromosome STR analysis is an excellent method
to verify presence of male DNA in mixed stain and to
exclude a reference person as donor of male cells
 APPLICATION OF Y
CHROMOSOME
• determination of male suspect involvement in
crime
• identify the paternal lineage of male perpetrators
• highlight multiple male contributors to a trace
• cases of sexual assault
• enabling investigative lead for finding unknown
male perpetrators
• paternity dispute of male offspring
• missing person
• disaster victim identification
 APPLICATION OF DNA
FINGERPRINTING
• DNA fingerprinting is highly sensitive and accurate
technique. The advent of DNA fingerprinting
identification has revolutionized the science of crime
detection. It is highly reliable in convicting criminals
and equally helps in exonerating innocent
individuals.
 APPLICATION OF DNA
FINGERPRINTING
• 1. Criminal investigation:
• DNA samples are collected and analyzed to
determine if they match with DNA sample
obtained from suspects of that crime
• if two DNA samples have same fingerprint
then there is a very highly statistical likelihood
they came from same person
 APPLICATION OF DNA
FINGERPRINTING
• 2. Determination of Paternity:
• blood of child, mother and father are profiled for
DNA - child will have 50% DNA from father and other
50% from mother
• bar in child’s code is matched first with patterns of
mother and then remaining bars are matched on
patterns of father
• if they correspond, he is father
• Precaution: parents should not have had a blood
transfusion with 3 months before taking sample
 APPLICATION OF DNA
FINGERPRINTING
• Schematic representation case of paternity dispute of alleged
father, the child, the mother with allelic ladder run adjacent
to test sample
• note that allelic number assigned commences from bottom
and ascends by one unit increment
• Reading of profile is easy and ambiguous
• alleged father – [13 15] child - [14 15] mother – [14 14]
• alleged father cannot be ruled out as biological father
 APPLICATION OF DNA
FINGERPRINTING
• 3. Murder:
• suspect’s DNA can be compared to evidence from
crime scene - results of comparison may enable to
establish whether the suspect committed the crime.
• 4. Identification of mutilated remains:
• in cases of accidents, mass disasters, bomb blasts,
putrefied bodies, DNA fingerprints is obtained from
such remains which may be compared with previous
prints if available or with that of close blood relatives
ofdeceased, which can establish link between family
 APPLICATION OF DNA
FINGERPRINTING
• 5. Sexual Assault:
• sexual assault contact between perpetrator and victim
and environment or both always leaves evidence
which is transferred from perpetrator to victim, to the
scene and vice versa
• analysis of DNA sample will enable to compare profile
of perpetrator.
• 6. Exhumation:
• Is process of exhuming buried human remnants for
additional forensic analysis if new information come to
light.
 APPLICATION OF DNA
FINGERPRINTING
• DNA testing is carried out to establish or confirm
identity of corpse, determination of paternity or
investigation of medico-legal cases
• 7. Exoneration:
• DNA is not only used for conviction it also has
successfully been used to exonerate suspects who
are falsely implicated
• 8. Traffic Accidents and Hit and Run Cases:
• DNA analysis is widely used for individual
identification in traffic accident investigation
 APPLICATION OF DNA
FINGERPRINTING
• in fatal hit and run cases can be identified by DNA
profiling
• 9. Wild Life Trafficking:
• Unlike human DNA analysis, for each relevant animal
species a new methodology and set of genetic
markers need to be developed, mapped and
validated
• Wild Life Trafficking DNA testing is used in species
identification - in some cases, it is necessary to
identify geographic location from which sample is
originates
• person may receive call - threating of
bombing, obscene, demand of ransom or
target of place etc
• even at times anticorruption agencies make
use of technology to record conversion to trap
corrupt officials
• identity of speaker’s voice would lead to
apprehension and also prosecution of culprit
• initially courts allowed tape recorded voice as
admissible evidence provided voice is properly
recognized by police and enforcement
agencies
• tape record was only means available in
absence of scientific method
ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT
• Prior to 1960 several acoustic experts evolved
some instrumental technique to analyze and
identify speakers’ voice
• pioneering effort of Dr. Lawrence Kersta an
electrical engineer and a physicist working with
Bell Laboraties developed an instrument called
voice print spectrograph which was further
modified and used by most law enforcement
Laboraties as a reliable and objective method of
voice identification
ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT
• with development in electronics, acoustics
and computer technology objective method of
voice recognition has become reality
• considerable scientific research led to
development of an instrument which capable
of speaker’s voice graphically
ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT
• identification of speaker’s voice by speech
spectrograph is based on principle that
dimensions of vocal cavities and coupling of
articulation are affected by hereditary, sex,
age and other socio-environmental factors
• proved through scientific technique that each
voice is uniquely different to make
identification through recorded voice by
sound spectrograph
 ANALYSIS OF SPEAKER’S
VOICE
• voice recognition test or speaker recognition
test termed as voice fingerprinting
• technology hold and establishes that due to
different acoustic patterns including both
anatomy and behavioral pattern a person’s
spectrogram differs from one to another
• speaker’s voice is identified through
spectrographic speech analysis
 ANALYSIS OF SPEAKER’S
VOICE
• first step consists of recording unknown voice
and then to discover suspect person and
obtain his sample voice using same text as
that of unknown caller
• voice so recorded is analyzed by voice expert
examiners by preparing suitable exemplars
from known voice and unknown voices
• exemplars then scanned on acoustic analysis
instrument to voice prints in form of graphical
patterns
 ANALYSIS OF SPEAKER’S
VOICE
• sound spectrograph can generate two type of
voice prints - bar voice prints and contour
voice print
• voice prints obtained in either of forms
determine what was spoken - exhibits time
along horizontal axis, while frequency along
vertical and amplitude as function of density
of pattern of same vowel spoken by unknow
and known voice
 ANALYSIS OF SPEAKER’S
VOICE
• visual comparison is made to establish
similarity and dissimilarity in recorded voices
• bar voice prints are exclusively used in
courtroom presentation while contour voice
prints are used in computer automated
classification of speaker’s voice for filing
recording
 ANALYSIS OF SPEAKER’S
VOICE
• voice disguise does not alter basic feature in
person’s voice prints
• voice mimics have also failed to prevent
recognition of voice through sound
spectrograph
 LEGAL STATUS OF
SPECTROGRAPH
• In Mohan @ Mohan Singh vs State of U.P 2020 stated
that if Court is satisfied about identification of persons
by evidence of identification of voice alone, no rule of
law prevents its acceptance as sole basis for conviction
• evidence led by prosecution must be cogent, positive,
affirmative and assertive and must establish beyond all
reasonable doubts that witness had ability to identify
voice and additionally there was sufficient opportunity
for witness to identify assailant by voice only
• Supreme Court of India has held that voice identification
data is admissible in court
• instrument was designed by scientist which was
capable of recording varied physiological changes
which served as basis for detecting truth or
deception
• instrument so designed is known as polygraphy
or lie detector
• first attempt to develop a scientific instrument to
detect truth or deception was by Lombroso in
early 1895, which was basically designed to
record blood pressure and changes in pulse rate
• later on, Larsen and Leanorde keeler
independently designed an instrument with
new features to make instrument more
versatile
• John Reid in 1947 further improved
instrument
• instrument is presently considered to be most
practical and effective scientific instrument for
detection of truth or deception
• PRINCIPLE:
• principle on which polygraph is based on
psychosomatic interactions of an individual
• psychological changes manifest into
physiological changes which can perceived in
blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration and
electrodermal response
• polygraph records changes pertaining to
respiration blood pressure and pulse
• another unit for recording galvanic skin reflex
(GSR) is electrodermal response
• unit for measuring muscular movement and
pressure exerted by subject body is an
additional feature of modern polygraphy
instrument
 PROCEDURE
• Polygraph is attached to subject as follows:
• 1. pneumography tube provided with beaded
chain is fastened around chest and another
around abdomen of subject to measure
variations in respiratory pattern
• 2. blood pressure cuff similar as physician
used is attached to subject’s upper arm
• 3. electrodes are attached to hand or index
and ring fingers through which a weak current is
passed to measure galvanic skin reflex
 PROCEDURE
• 4. chair on which person sits is designed to
record body movements and pressure
 PROCEDURE
• for conducting polygraphy test both examiner
and subject has to prepare and following steps
are to be followed
• i. go through back ground of case (Back
ground analysis of case)
• ii. formulation of questionnaire based on
background of case
• iii. appraisal on objectives of test to subject
including nature of instrument and its various
attachment and recordings
 PROCEDURE
• generally, polygraph examiner practices three
types of questioning techniques:
• i. Irrelevant questions
• ii. Control questions
• iii. Peak of tension questions
• Irrelevant questions technique contains
several irrelevant questions which have no
bearing on case or involvement of subject in a
crime under investigation
 PROCEDURE
• control questions are interpersonal among
certain relevant and irrelevant questions
• They do not relate to crime under
investigation but to a similar situation in
which his answer may have feeling of concern
with respect to either its truthfulness or its
accuracy
 PROCEDURE
• peak of tension questions is framed when
some of important details of offence in
question are not made known to subject
• test questions in case are framed in such a
way that only one question will have bearing
upon matter under investigation and all others
coming close to guilty knowledge
 PROCEDURE
• series of question framed are first read to
subject and later they are administered with
instrument attached
• during first reading if subject has no
knowledge or information on pertinent
question put to him then no tension is built up
• but if he has knowledge then as a question
approach, he is likely to experience tension
and hence term peak of tension
 LEGAL STATUS
• result of polygraphy examination is not
acceptable as evidence both in criminal and
civil courts in most of countries including India
• scientific community feels that test is far from
infallibility
• despite this fact polygraphy is extensively
used in criminal interrogation
 BRAIN MAPPING
• brain is a highly complex organ made up
of billions of cells called neurons
• neurons send and receive messages to
and from all parts of the body
• messages are electrical impulses that
create brain waves
• four types of brainwaves
 BRAIN MAPPING

1. Delta Brainwave : indicates sleep or dreaming

2. Theta Brainwave : indicates drowsy or meditative

3. Alpha Brainwave : indicates relaxed or reflective

4. Beta Brainwave : indicates alertness or working

 BRAIN MAPPING
• known as the “P-300 waves test” invented by
American neurologist Dr. Lawrence A. Farwell
• is a higher form of neuroimaging, producing
brain images enabling to evaluate brainwave
neuron signals
• works by measuring electrical potential
difference, which arises due to the neuronal
activity of the brain
PROCESS AND WORKING OF
BRAIN MAPPING
• brain mapping test is usually a non-invasive
• suspect is first interviewed and interrogated
to find out whether individual is concealing
any information
• thereafter suspect is asked to sit in a relaxed
manner and avoid any kind of movement or
excessive swallowing and minimize any kind of
muscle tension as far as possible
PROCESS AND WORKING OF
BRAIN MAPPING
• suspect to be interrogated is made to wear a
special cap with sensors on head specifically
touching scalp
• cap is attached to electroencephalogram for
recording all electrical impulses by software
PROCESS AND WORKING OF
BRAIN MAPPING
• computer analyses brain wave responses and
determine whether facts relating to
• crime are stored in suspect’s brain
• activation of brain is based on associated
memory and is carried out by presenting a list
of words to the suspect
PROCESS AND WORKING OF
BRAIN MAPPING
• list of words used for brain mapping test
comprises:
• neutral words, which have no direct
relationship with the case.
• probing words directly related to the case.
• targets, which are not part of first two parts -
words in this part are based on confidential
findings which suspect does not know
PROCESS AND WORKING OF
BRAIN MAPPING
• during test, both familiar and unfamiliar
auditory as well as visual stimuli are presented
• process takes about fifteen minutes, and
conclusion is drawn by experts after test has
been conducted and map is derived to find
out if a suspect/accused brain recognizes
things from a crime scene
• brain mapping analyses the brain’s responses
to images or words related to the crime
 LEGAL ASPECTS OF BRAIN
MAPPING
• Landmark cases in Brain Mapping Test:
• 1. Ramchandra Ram Reddy vs The State of
Maharashtra, 2004 held that brain mapping
can be administered to any accused or a
witness as it discloses existence of knowledge
about a crime in the brain of those persons
undergoing the tests. The protection afforded
by Article 20(3) therefore cannot apply to
such test
 LEGAL ASPECTS OF BRAIN
MAPPING
• 2. Dr. Rajesh Talwar and Another v. Central
Bureau Investigation, (SLP Cri. No. 7966 2013
• 3. Asif Mansoorali Ansari and Ors vs The
State of Maharashtra 2017, the accused
Mohd. Samir was subjected, brain mapping.
• 4. Hathras case - Satyam Dubey vs Union of
India, Writ Petition Criminal No. 296 2020.
 LEGAL ASPECTS OF BRAIN
MAPPING
• brain mapping is valid in India scenario, when
other forensic tools proved futile
• Supreme Court has held that narco-analysis,
polygraph and brain mapping tests on an
accused are illegal
• court, however, permitted use of such
techniques in criminal cases on consent and
with some safeguards
 NARCO-ANALYSIS
• also known as truth serum test
• term narco is derived from Greek word narke
(torpor) and is coined by Horselley
• is an invasive technique in which sodium
pentothal drug is injected to the subject to
induce ‘hypnotic state’
• hypnotic state subject’s imagination is
neutralized who will then divulge information
that believed to be true to knowledge
 NARCO-ANALYSIS
• hypnotic stage efforts are made to obtain
“probative truth about crime
• drug removes conscious control and makes
the person disinhibited
• makes subject more relaxed, comfortable,
open, free and conversant
• in this stage subject is more likely to divulge
information which would usually not be
revealed in conscious state
 NARCO-ANALYSIS
• test is based on principle that a person is able
to lie using imagination and under influence of
certain barbiturates this capacity of
imagination is blocked or neutralized by
leading person in hypnotic stage
• it becomes difficult to lie and his answers are
restricted to facts person is aware
 Procedure
• Narco-analysis is conducted in controlled
circumstances with necessary facilities for life
support by a team comprising of “an
anesthesiologist, a psychiatrist, a
clinical/forensic psychologist, an
audio/videographer and supporting nursing
staff.”
 Procedure
• it is mandatory to obtain consent before being
tested and person should know and
understands the entire procedure
• thorough medical examination must be
carried out before test is administered
 Legal Status
• S.C held that narco analysis is illegal
• result obtained through involuntary
administration of test come with scope of
‘testimonial compulsions’ thereby attracting
protective shield of Article 20(3)
• in hypnotic stage subject’s imagination is
neutralized, subject will then divulge
information that believed to be true to
knowledge
 BRAIN ELECTRICAL
OSCILLATION SIGNATURE
• developed by Champadi Raman Mukundan, a
neuroscientist for detecting individuals with
specific autobiographical episodes or
experience
• is non-invasive scientific technique with a
great degree of sensitivity by which a
suspect's participation in a crime is detected
by eliciting electrophysiological impulses
 BRAIN ELECTRICAL
OSCILLATION SIGNATURE
• comprises Neuro Signature System (NSS) for
obtaining brain electrical activity and Visual and
Auditory Stimulus Programming (VASP), which is to
record auditory and visual probes and their
presentation while interacting with data acquisition
system
• NSS denotes equipment designed and developed by
Axxonet which records scalp electrical activity from a
person using multiple electrodes while Neuro
Signature System program extracts the signature
 BRAIN ELECTRICAL
OSCILLATION SIGNATURE
• human brain is most complex biological entity and
has remarkable ability to encode, store and retrieve
the information or experiences
• two neurocognitive processes are knowing and
remembering
• knowing denotes cognitive process of recognition
with or without familiarity while remembrance is
recall of episodic and autobiographical attribute
which involves personal experience of an individual
as gained due to personal participation
 BRAIN ELECTRICAL
OSCILLATION SIGNATURE
• remembrance of an experience is virtually like
recalling same experience when all its original
components are recalled
• remembrance therefore comprises of recreation
of sensory mental imageries and motor mental
imageries.
• remembrance is possible only when person had
experienced - experienced knowledge
accompanying remembrance result in specific
changes in electrical oscillations
 BRAIN ELECTRICAL
OSCILLATION SIGNATURE
• electrical activity related to remembrance is referred
as “signature” of the experience
• signature represents presence of electrical activation
pattern indicating retrieval of Experiential Knowledge
of said participation - experiential knowledge is
connected to long-term memory processing.
• knowledge is extracted directly from memory
without individual responses through specially
designed verbal statements presented as probes in
auditory mode
 BRAIN ELECTRICAL
OSCILLATION SIGNATURE
• neurocognitive processes are best represented by
electrophysiological changes in brain, which can be
easily, recorded using surface electrodes placed on
the head
 BRAIN ELECTRICAL
OSCILLATION SIGNATURE
• BEOS is a computer-based technology carried out
via Electro Encephalograph and works on the
principle of neuro-psychology to identify and
measure the internal processing of remembrance
in the brain
• neuro-psychological criteria of BEOS system
comprise, of Experiential Knowledge (EK),
Primary processing (PP), Encoding (EN),
Emotional Response (ER), Activation Suppression
(AS), Inattention (IN); etc
 PROCEDURE
• procedure of BEOS commences with conducting of
pretest interview with suspect who is acquainted
with test procedure after consent being obtained
• purpose of pretest interview is not only to ensure
overall interpretation of suspect’s truthfulness but
also whether physically and emotionally suitable for
examination
• during pretest interview suspect is posed with
control questions to evoke the suspect’s genuine
apprehension
• pretest interview must also elicit behavioral
patterns characteristic of guilt or innocence
• pretest interview should be composed of
nonabrasive and non-accusatory questions that
force suspect to discuss personal attitudes
toward incident
• both verbal and nonverbal responses must be
noted - responses given by suspect during
pretest enable in recognizing behavior clusters
characteristic of truth or deception
• suspect is comfortably seated in a chair in front of a
computer screen with an Electro Encephalograph
skullcap fitted with 32 electrodes placed on each
earlobe and rest on various parts of brain to detect
electrical activation of brain
• rotatory Eye Moment electrodes are attached to
record rotatory eyes moment
• ideally during BEOS test no questions are to be asked,
suspect is supposed to remain silent and only listen to
probes in sequence with closed eyes and need not give
any oral response to the stimulus
• suspect then expose to visual or auditory stimulus
related to the particular episode through a computer
recorded probes which range from neutral to
incriminating to stimulate a suspect’s brain in order to
elicit and trigger reactions that can be related to the
probe's contents which are linked to numerous parts of
the crime under investigation and control circumstances
• probe categories comprise of neutral, control, Target
A, and Target B probes
• neutral probes are purely sematic questions that are
not related to any experiential incident and not
intended to elicit any recollection
• control probes are verifiable autobiographical
episodes in suspect's life that are unrelated to crime
• Target A probes are related to crime and progression
of events, which are usually stated in a chronological
order with assumed activities in which the examiner
assumes that the suspect may have participated
• Usually, Target A probes are incriminating in nature
so that the suspect might reveal any knowledge of
the crime
• Target B probes are revelation relating to suspect’s
own version of events - suspect is of opinion that
they will provide immunity
• Neuro Signature System extensively analyses
electrical oscillations for computing both frequency
and time domain related changes induced and
provoked by probes
• audio and details of each probe presented to suspect
is recorded in the system along with
electroencephalogram.
• probes would evoke remembrance of experience
that accused would have had which will trigger brain
neuron.
• Triggering of neurons will generate brainwave
known as a P300
• generation of brainwaves leads to accumulation of
electrical potential in brain
• Brainwaves are measured using the scalp ERG EEG
• Analog signals are generated when brainwaves are
measured and amplified in an EEG amplifier
• enhanced analogue signals are analyzed using
a computer software to detect concealed
information stored in the brain and determine
the participation of accused in crime
• software records brain signals in specific
regions when crime details are narrated
• result is based on the phenomenon of ‘knowledge’
and ‘experience
• person’s brain might have knowledge of crime
committed, but ‘experience’ of having participated in
the crime determines the guilt
• on completion of automated analyses, the system
prints out an interpreted report which reveals nature
of involvement such a participation, specific role
related to planning or execution
• finally, analyzed result generated is Forensic report
of suspect