Singh Mohinder, Chopra Romika, Sharma Ajay, Sharma Vishal
Former GEQD, Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Forensic Science Services, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500013, India.
Institute of Forensic Science and Criminology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
Forensic Sci Int Synerg. 2025 Mar 18;10:100582. doi: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2025.100582. eCollection 2025 Jun.
Handwriting is an acquired neuromuscular skill that relies on motor memory and brain function, which make it vulnerable to impairments caused by physical or mental conditions. This paper presents a forensic case study comparing pre- and post-stroke Devnagari writing samples of a post-neurosurgery memory-impaired patient. The study aimed to assess the feasibility, reliability, and limitations of handwriting identification, in such cases. Results revealed that there are significant differences between pre- and post-stroke handwritings, indicating distinct master pattern and potentially different writers. In the absence of medical history, a false negative opinion could have been generated in this case. This study highlights the need for contemporaneous specimens, careful evaluation, and integration of medical history in forensic document examination. It is, certainly, a grey area, emphasizing the need for further research.
书写是一种后天习得的神经肌肉技能，依赖于运动记忆和大脑功能，这使其容易受到身体或精神状况所导致的损伤影响。本文呈现了一个法医案例研究，比较了一位神经外科手术后记忆受损患者中风前后的天城体书写样本。该研究旨在评估在此类案例中笔迹鉴定的可行性、可靠性及局限性。结果显示，中风前后的笔迹存在显著差异，表明有明显的主导模式且可能出自不同书写者。若没有病史记录，此案可能会得出假阴性的结论。本研究强调了在法医文件检验中需要有同期样本、仔细评估以及结合病史。这无疑是一个灰色地带，凸显了进一步研究的必要性。
