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Michał Widacki
Emerging deception detection technologies, memory processes in polygraph testing, and comparative polygraph practices
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About Michał Widacki
Michał Widacki is a Polish polygraph researcher and scholar affiliated with European Polygraph journal, where he serves as Associate Editor. He earned his doctorate in 2019 from Katowice with a dissertation analyzing polygraph examinations in criminal cases in Poland from 2003–2012. He frequently collaborates with his father, Jan Stefan Widacki, a distinguished professor and Editor-in-Chief of European Polygraph, contributing to Poland's prominent role in European polygraph research.
Widacki's research focuses on emerging technologies in deception detection and memory processes relevant to polygraph testing. His 2025 study with co-authors examined FaceReader software for automatic facial expression recognition as a potential deception detection tool, exploring what emotions are triggered by critical questions during polygraph examinations. His experimental work has investigated facial temperature changes captured by infrared cameras as indicators in instrumental lie detection. His 2016 pilot study with Marcin Tarabuła examined the amount of information remembered by perpetrators in the context of the Guilty Knowledge Technique (Concealed Information Test) in criminal investigation, addressing critical questions about memory reliability in CIT applications.
Widacki has also contributed to policy and historical scholarship in the field. He published research on polygraph examinations in Russia, providing comparative analysis of practices in different jurisdictions. His work spans foundational theoretical questions about memory distortions and confabulation, neuroimaging applications, and the legal framework governing polygraph use in Poland, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach that bridges psychophysiology, law, and forensic science.
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Researchers who have co-authored studies with Michał Widacki.
Publications [9]
All peer-reviewed studies by Michał Widacki in our database.
Recognition of emotions by analysing facial expressions with FaceReader (Noldus) vs detection of deception by polygraph examination: A pilot study
The study explored the integration of facial expression analysis technology with traditional polygraph examination to identify emotions accompanying deceptive responses during concealed information testing. [002] 2025 European PolygraphMemory Distortions, Confabulation, and Their Impact on Polygraph Examinations
Confabulated memories can produce autonomic responses similar to genuine memories, creating false-positive polygraph results because traditional methods cannot distinguish between intentional deception and genuinely believed false memories. [003] 2022 Przegląd Bezpieczeństwa WewnętrznegoPolygraph examinations in Russia
Polygraph use in Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs increased 14-fold from 2002-2007, reaching nearly 22,000 examinations annually, with 35,000-40,000 examinations conducted across federal agencies by 2008. Russia permits polygraph results… [004] 2018 European PolygraphExperiments in Using Face Temperature Changes as an Indicator in Instrumental Detection of Deception
Areas near the nose showed full consistency with GSR recordings, with smaller, anatomically focused regions producing clearer thermal signatures than larger facial areas. The study demonstrated feasibility while identifying needs… [005] 2017 European PolygraphTuvya Amsel, Practicing Polygraph, best practice guide, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, North Charleston, 2017
The handbook provides practitioner-focused guidance on polygraph best practices, emphasizing individualized approaches, ethical examination procedures, and solutions to common field problems based on extensive professional experience. [006] 2016 European PolygraphPreparation to Experimental Testing of the Potential from Using Facial Temperature Changes Registered with an Infrared Camera in Lie Detection
The study successfully established the theoretical framework for using infrared cameras to measure facial temperature fluctuations during deception detection, identifying methods to convert thermal images into graphic charts comparable to… [007] 2016 European PolygraphThe Amount of Information Remembered by the Perpetrator in the Context of the Application of the Guilty Knowledge Technique in Criminal Investigation – a Pilot Study
The pilot study examined perpetrator memory for crime details, contributing to understanding of how information retention patterns affect GKT applicability. Findings align with established research showing differential retention of central… [008] 2011 European PolygraphLegal Admissibility of Employee Polygraph Examinations in Poland
Employee polygraph examinations in Poland's private sector face significant legal obstacles absent explicit statutory authorization or genuine voluntary consent. While government agencies have clear statutory authority for polygraph screening, private… [009] 2010 European PolygraphThe Attempts at Detecting Deception Through Evaluation of Non-verbal Symptoms
Ancient practitioners across multiple cultures independently recognized that deception produces observable physiological changes, particularly in pulse rate, establishing foundational principles that underpin modern psychophysiological deception detection methods.Explore all research.
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