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Original air date:
10.10.07
Can Brain Scans Keep Us Honest?
The polygraph machine is still our best tool to tell when someone is lying - but it's based on technology that has barely changed since the 1930s. Now, there may be a better way to separate truth from fiction: a brain scanner that advocates say can literally look into a person's head and show when they're even thinking a lie.
Polygraphs don't catch lies directly - they try to detect a person's fear of getting caught, by tracking measures like blood pressure, respiration and skin conductivity, which typically go up with anxiety. But they don't work on people for whom lying is so easy and natural that it brings no sweaty palms or shortness of breath.
The brain-scanning technology known as functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, however, goes far deeper. Research suggests that there are parts of the brain which are active only when a person is thinking deceptive thoughts. The fMRI detects when those parts turn on, and bingo, the liar is busted.
That's the theory, anyway. The entrepreneurs behind a company called "No Lie MRI" are so convinced that they're already trying to market the device. But many scientists remain skeptical that it works as advertised - and civil libertarians are alarmed by its implications for privacy.
Join WIRED Science's Adam Rogers as he tries to outsmart a polygraph and an fMRI machine. Sure, the truth is out there - but can a machine really tell if lies are too?
16 Posts
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10.3.07 8:07 PM PDT
Christian Vandermaas
Can this also be used for finding pre-cognitive brain signals?? This is my field of study and I would love to use an fMRI to do some detailed tests. I found I can find pre-cognitive brain signals useing Liner FFT conversions of my evoked potentials and adding a Neurochemical (off the shelf) with a 3 hour uptake time. Any thoughts on how I can get some testing done?? I'm available at cvandermaas-at-hotmail.com
10.9.07 9:56 AM PDT
Brandon
"Can this also be used for finding pre-cognitive brain signals??"
Yes, it can. I have been using machines similar to this for the better part of the last century, and I have a Ph.D in getting my sexy on, so, you can take my word for it.
10.10.07 10:26 AM PDT
bradley
no machine is right all the time
10.11.07 9:29 AM PDT
kid
what he said ^3
10.13.07 10:58 PM PDT
Cooder
sexy brandon- good try. fMRIs were not utilized until the early 90's
10.15.07 10:04 PM PDT
WOOGY
I first want to say I am a big longtime fan of Kamala Lopez! I have been intrigued and studied the aspect of beating lie detectors for a longtime. Everyone knows now that it is possible to beat a lie detector, but, I also wanted to let everyone as well as Kamala and adam know that it is possible to be the MRI Lie detector, although it would not be easy for most it is possible! I have great knowledge as to how it can be done
10.30.07 5:01 AM PDT
Sam
Has everyone forgotten that the FM component goes out of your voice when you lie?And these devices were 99.99% accurate. If you listen closely enough to braggarts you will learn to hear the loss of the Frequency Modulated component in the voices when they try to expand on their achievements. Just as a mother learns to hear it in children when they are trying to put one over on the parents. There have been machines constructed in briefcases and are used serrupticiously on people every day in our corporate systems for hiring of secure individuals for special positions in accounting and the research and development areas. This was demonstrated on TV at the time of their development, but was soon hushed up by the business and industrial arena because they were worried about liability. These programs have been even used in a couple of the current cloak and dagger programs.
7.16.08 4:29 PM PDT
Sam
I like what Sam Said about the FM component. For many years I have been saying that we should have something like that to monitor politicians, up to and including the president, and politics in general. Had we required that back in the 2000s we may not be at war today, unless they rigged it for their convenience. But then, let's face it they control all of the buttons - we are just puppets. I would think Civil Rights people would want something like that.
2.26.09 10:53 AM PST
nicole
this polygraph is very progresed. i agree it can help the economy by telling if people are lying. so i think this invention is very helpful.
2.26.09 10:55 AM PST
nicole
WOW LOTS OF COMMENT
2.26.09 10:56 AM PST
NICOLE
WOW ALOT OF COMMENT I SEE. IT TAKES AN HOUR TO SCROLL DOWN.
3.20.09 12:14 AM PDT
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7.22.09 6:21 AM PDT
Betty
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