By Tanya Lewis
Someday soon, judgments of guilt or innocence in a courtroom might be determined from a brain scan, scientists say.
Technologies for imaging the brain have advanced rapidly, to the point where it’s possible to infer, for example, what object a person has stolen based on that person’s neural activity. But how reliable is the science, and should it determine criminal fate? A panel of scientists and legal experts discussed these issues Saturday (June 1) at the World Science Festival, an annual celebration and exploration of science held here.
The panel discussion was based on an upcoming PBS documentary called “Brains on Trial with Alan Alda,” expected to air in September, and moderated by Alda himself.
Guilt in the brain
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is one promising technique for determining a person’s guilt. The technique detects changes in blood flow that highlight which parts of the brain are active.
