The P300 is a specific electrical signal your brain produces when it recognises something it already knows. Here's exactly how we use it.
The P300 Response — What It Is
Roughly 300 milliseconds after your brain sees a stimulus it recognises, it produces a measurable spike of electrical activity called the P300 event-related potential. This was first documented in peer-reviewed neuroscience research in the 1960s and has been studied extensively ever since. The P300 is completely involuntary — it happens before conscious thought. Your brain fires it whether you want it to or not.
What Happens During the Test
You wear a lightweight BrainBit EEG headband that sits on your forehead and behind your ears — no wires, no straps, no chest sensors. You sit in front of a screen and are shown a series of words, images, or statements. Some are relevant to the case. Some are irrelevant controls. All you do is watch.
Our 8-channel EEG system records your brain's response to each stimulus in real time. When your brain recognises something relevant — a person's name, a location, a detail you claim not to know — the P300 spike appears across multiple channels. When the stimulus means nothing to you, the signal stays flat. That recognition vs no-recognition pattern is what determines the result.
Why It Cannot Be Beaten
Polygraph countermeasures work because they target voluntary body responses — you can control your breathing, clench your toes, or bite your tongue to disrupt readings. The P300 response is neurological and involuntary. There is no muscle to clench, no breathing pattern to change, and no mental technique that suppresses it. Published research by Farwell & Donchin (1991) and Rosenfeld et al. (2008) consistently shows detection rates between 90% and 98% in controlled blind testing.
What You Receive Afterwards
Within the hour of testing, you receive a detailed 8-page forensic report covering the raw EEG data, P300 spike analysis for each question, deception scoring, and a clear truthful or deceptive determination. The report is suitable for solicitors, employers, HR departments, or personal use. Expert testimony is available on request.