Brain imaging of terrorists challenged

STATE COLLEGE, D.C., April 3 (UPI) -- A U.S. researcher is challenging the use of brain imaging procedures during the interrogation of suspected terrorists.

Pennsylvania State University Associate Professor Jonathan Marks analyzed the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging to detect deception or a suspect's recognition of a name, event or photograph

What fMRI detects are changes in the amount of oxygen used by neurons in the brain, he said. Because active neurons use more oxygen than inactive ones, such changes are considered evidence of cognitive processes.

According to Marks, the intelligence community has advocated the use of fMRI to identify terrorists and detect lies during interrogations. He said such a use of fMRI isn't surprising since polygraph tests have profound limitations, and are unreliable in many situations.

"MRI machines are very useful diagnostic tools, but using them to claim that certain things are going on inside people's minds is a major jump," said Marks.

Although fMRI scans are open to a broad range of interpretations, Marks argues the vivid imagery is seductively persuasive, creates a false sense of security and may lead to aggressive interrogation tactics.

Marks' analysis appears in the American Journal of Law and Medicine.