The fascination for understanding and deciphering human nature is not a new found fad. A particular obsession like interest in the deviant or criminal nature of man has recently surfaced and much credit goes to the glamorous media portrayal of such behaviour. From witnessing the adoption of primitive methods to detect deceitful behaviour to the evolution of technology used for it, the human race has come a long way. This paper examines one such technological advancement in the field of deception detection called the Suspect Detection System (SDS) that uses the Cogito technology, henceforth called the Cogito SDS. This investigative tool is based on the Electrodermal Activity (EDA), also known as the Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) – a psychophysiological measurement of the sympathetic nervous. This literature review also discusses the technique of questioning adopted by the Cogito SDS examination which is the Concealed Information Test (CIT), previously called the Guilty Knowledge Test (GKT). The application of the CIT implies that the examination focuses on eliciting any concealed information that an individual taking the test may possess. This hidden knowledge is related to the cause or case for which the individual is examined and could include facts about any person, event, or incident in question. An attempt to review use of the CIT in the Cogito SDS is also made. The literature review concludes with an overview of the advantages as well as the challenges in the use of the Cogito. There is also an optimistic hope that this review might encourage further research and commentaries on the utility of this technology in criminal investigation as a forensic tool for detecting deception.  

Keywords: Cogito suspect detection system, Psychophysiology, Electrodermal activity, Conceale information test, Investigation