The influence of stress on biometric signature stability

Abstract

This paper directly follows on from prior research into DBS, the properties of DBS, security, its resistance to forgery and its stability. Experiments under stress situations, conducted during a survival course at the University of Defence of the Czech Republic, are described herein. It was shown that a handwritten signature developed by way of long-term practice and the reinforcement of a dynamic stereotype, consisting of the physiological, anatomical and motoric properties of each and every individual, becomes automatic to such an extent that the subconscious appending of a signature protects it from outside influences to a similar degree as we proved in the past in relation to alcohol. The experiments also identified that shorter signatures (abbreviated signature, initials) show very high variability of conformity and non-conformity between individual signatures. It was proven that the quality of recognising a signature rises with the length of the information written down. It was also again confirmed that the use of a 1st signature as “practice”, not included in the results, reduced the variability of signatures among all participants.