Are You a Liar? Ask Your Brain
Summary:
Current lie detectors measure heart rate and blood pressure, which are signs of anxiety, but not necessarily of lying. An fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanner measures bloodflow to different parts of the brain, which can then be analyzed to determine the truth of someone’s statements. This is because when one lies, the brain has to design a false answer, as opposed to simply stating known information. A certain area of the brain, the prefrontal cortex is responsible for developing such a new response to something.
The way the fMRI measures which parts of the brain are being used is that hemoglobin has different magnetic properties depending on whether it is carrying oxygen or not, and the areas of the brain that are the most active have the most oxygen. This allows researchers to see if the prefrontal cortex is active and therefore whether someone is lying or not.
However, since has not yet been fully tested in criminal cases its results are purely experimental.
Response: I think that this concept has great potential to improve not only the justice system and the validity of other things such as background checks, but will also allow us greater insight into how the brain works, specifically dealing with the physical origin of creativity. Moreover, this research could potentially open a new way of studying the brain without opening the skull.
Article: http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=lie-brain-fmri-polygraph&page=2
posted by Alex @ 11:06 AM
3 Comments:
The only problem with this procedure would be getting the criminal to agree to a medical procedure. I can't see many people agreeing to have their brain scanned willingly. Even if this breakthrough doesn't end up helping the justice system, however, it will certainly still help doctors to understand the brain and how it operates better.
I think it would be great if their was a more reliable way to tell if someone was lying. It would definately help the justice system.
It still amazes me that we haven’t even begun to understand how the brain works. If the fMRI helps us understand how the brain works without any surgeries, its going to be a great device for future study of the brain.
It is great that there is a new way to detect how someone is lying. But I am a little worried with how this is going to work with how much money will be spent on criminals to check if they are lying. We can't even give really sick patients an MRI scan if needed with the kind of funds. It is creative and if it works better to keep us safe great.
I think that it is amazing all the new ways to study the brain and how it functions. Just when we think we've figured it all out we discover something new.
This was a great article and well done.
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