Abstract
Human scent identification is based on a matching-to-sample task in which trained dogs are required to compare a scent sample collected from an object found at a crime scene to that of a suspect. Based on dogs’ greater olfactory ability to detect and process odours, this method has been used in forensic investigations to identify the odour of a suspect at a crime scene. The excellent reliability and reproducibility of the method largely depend on rigor in dog training. The present study describes the various steps of training that lead to high sensitivity scores, with dogs matching samples with 90% efficiency when the complexity of the scents presented during the task in the sample is similar to that presented in the in lineups, and specificity reaching a ceiling, with no false alarms in human scent matching-to-sample tasks. This high level of accuracy ensures reliable results in judicial human scent identification tests. Also, our data should convince law enforcement authorities to use these results as official forensic evidence when dogs are trained appropriately.
Highlights
Olfactory cues provide information about food, mates, offspring, predators, prey and pathogens [1, 2]
The specificity scores at the end of step 5 demonstrated that dogs fully acquired the human olfactory matching-to-sample task with our line-up method, suggesting that human scents collected with our method are usable and valuable
The matching-to-sample task was performed by the dogs without their handlers, and the high Hit rate was solely attributable to the learning and olfactory abilities of the dogs and was not biased by any external influence of the handler [33, 34]
Summary
Olfactory cues provide information about food, mates, offspring, predators, prey and pathogens [1, 2]. Because detection of these compounds is essential for survival, the majority of animals have developed a highly sophisticated olfactory system during the course of evolution [3], with thousands of volatile compounds perceived as distinct odours [1]. The ability of dogs to identify and discriminate between human odours has long been documented [9] and numerous experimental studies have shown that dogs are able to detect, identify and memorize the odour of a particular person with high specificity.
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