James C. Mundt

James C. Mundt, PhD, is a senior research analyst for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services at Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center, where he joined in 2014. His career has spanned multiple research domains, with extensive prior experience developing computer-automated assessment technologies for mental health and neuropsychological applications, including pioneering work with interactive voice response (IVR) systems for remote patient assessment while affiliated with Healthcare Technology Systems in Madison, Wisconsin.

Much of Dr. Mundt's research career has focused on developing innovative methods of measuring clinical progress by integrating physiological indices of functioning, such as ocular-motor control or vocal acoustic characteristics of speech production, with self-reported behaviors. In the deception detection field, his primary contribution has been evaluating Ocular-Motor Deception Testing (ODT) as a potential alternative to traditional polygraph methods. Ocular-motor deception testing (ODT) uses measures of cognitive load to assess credibility, tracking eye movements and pupil responses while examinees read and respond to true/false statements. His experiments at Sand Ridge (n = 26 and n = 74) established base rates of deception to optimize the ODT scoring model and tested generalizability, finding observed accuracy rates were not significantly less than published rates of 80%, supporting use of ODT methods as a potential alternative to PCSOT (post-conviction sex offender polygraph testing).

Mundt's work represents an application of neuroimaging and new technologies to forensic credibility assessment, specifically examining whether eye-tracking technology could serve civilly detained populations where traditional polygraph testing is commonly used. His research focuses on the assessment, treatment, and prevention of sexual violence and recidivism among civilly committed sexually violent persons. His ODT research was conducted in collaboration with Jason W. Smith and Gina Ambroziak at Sand Ridge, with technical support from Converus, Inc., though the authors have no conflicts of interest regarding the commercial development of EyeDetect®.

Beyond polygraph research, Mundt's broader scientific contributions span clinical psychology, telemedicine, and psychophysiology. His measurement methods have been applied in clinical domains ranging from mood disorders to Alzheimer's disease to suicidal ideation and behaviors in clinical trials. His interdisciplinary approach—combining computer science, psychophysiology, and clinical assessment—positioned him to evaluate emerging deception detection technologies from both a technical and forensic science perspective.