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Progress In Brain-Based Lie Detection

A Cognitive Neuroscientist writes "A new study, led by Harvard Psychologist Joshua Greene and forthcoming in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, may represent progress on the front of using brain imaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, to detect lies. According to Harvard's press release, Greene's is 'the first study to examine brain activity of people telling actual lies,' as opposed to prior studies in which subjects were merely instructed to lie. The results suggest that one key step in distinguishing honest from dishonest individuals may involve focusing on a small set of brain regions that are responsible for executive control and attention. However, given that the actual paper is yet to be published, it's unclear whether the study is prone to some of the methodological and interpretive complications that have recently plagued similar brain imaging studies."

4 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. New non-trusive lie detection method flawed? by Drakkenmensch · · Score: 5, Funny

    Back to savage beatings and waterboarding, I guess.

    1. Re:New non-trusive lie detection method flawed? by Chris+Burke · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Back to savage beatings and waterboarding, I guess.

      I don't see why having a working non-intrusive lie detection method would mean those things have to stop!

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
  2. Why all the skepticism? by eln · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I don't understand why the contributor of this story is so skeptical of it...it seems all we would need to do is hook the scientists up to an fMRI and we'd know for sure if they were lying about the study!

  3. Maybe I can use this... by A.+B3ttik · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...to find out the location of the Hidden Rebel Base.