Pre-registration Required

Tuesday, July 22, 2008       Time: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

#12 Investigations of Disputed Signatures: Motor Control Perspectives

Faculty

Bryan J. Found, PhD Forensic Expertise Profiling Laboratory School of Human Biosciences La Trobe University Bundoora, Victoria, Australia Digital & Document Evidence Branch Applied Science Division Victoria Police Forensic Centre 31 Forensic Drive, Macleod Victoria 3085, Australia

Linton A. Mohammed, MFS San Diego Sheriff's Regional Crime Laboratory 5255 Mt. Etna Drive San Diego, CA 92117

Opinions by forensic specialists regarding the authenticity of disputed signatures are underpinned by both theoretical and experiential components. Traditional theory has, in recent times, evolved to incorporate aspects of the process by which complex movements are learned and carried out in the environment. Much of the theory required by forensic handwriting examiners can be extracted from the motor control literature. This eight-hour workshop will provide participants with psycho-physiological theory directly related to the normal process of production of skilled signatures and will explore why it is, at a sensory/motor level, that skilled signatures are difficult for individuals to mimic successfully.

The morning session will explore the theoretical relationship between the work of specialists on genuine, disguised, and simulated signatures and the production of these forms in both the static and dynamic domains. The afternoon session will be focused on real examples of these signatures; will provide participants with the opportunity to consider motor models of their production, in terms of features that they can observe, and will provide further insights into the interpretation of static features in the dynamic domain.

Participants should gain a clear understanding of the relevance of motor control science to the forensic signature examination paradigm. They will be provided with opportunities to examine genuine, disguised, and simulated signatures and carry out blind tests to assist in their personal skill assessment with respect to relating theoretical constructs to casework problems.