Anatomy and Physiology for Polygraph Examinations Training

Learning Outcomes

• Apply knowledge of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and electrodermal systems to polygraph examination procedures.
• Analyze physiological responses recorded during polygraph tests to differentiate between deception-related and non-deception-related reactions.
• Evaluate the impact of individual physiological variations on polygraph data interpretation.
• Demonstrate understanding of the anatomical structures and physiological processes underlying common polygraph measurements.
• Implement protocols to account for physiological artifacts and ensure data integrity during polygraph examinations.

Target Audience

This course is designed for practicing polygraph examiners, trainees in the field of forensic psychophysiology, and professionals seeking SAQA-aligned training in anatomy and physiology for polygraph applications.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Practicals

Overview

Practicals provide hands-on experience with polygraph equipment, sensor placement, data collection, and chart interpretation. Learners will conduct mock examinations and practice scoring and report writing under supervision.

Practical Activities

• Sensor Placement and Calibration — Learners practice attaching pneumograph, cardiograph, and electrodermal sensors to a volunteer and calibrating the equipment. (4h)
• Mock Polygraph Examination: Data Collection — Learners conduct a full mock polygraph examination including pre-test interview, question formulation, and data collection. (8h)
• Chart Analysis and Scoring — Learners analyze pre-recorded polygraph charts, identify physiological responses, and apply numerical scoring. (6h)
• Report Writing and Case Review — Learners write a complete polygraph examination report based on a mock case and review sample reports. (6h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total

Component	Out of	Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored)	100%	30%
Daily Average (multiple choice)	100%	20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice)	100%	50%
Final Total	—	100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

How it works

• Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
• Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
• You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
• If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.

Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates	Discount
5	3% off
10	6% off
15	9% off
20	12% off
25	15% off
30	18% off
50	30% off
75	35% off
100	40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.