From BBC news June 7th 7:00AM 2010
Brain scans being misused as lie detectors, experts sayBy Caroline Parkinson Health reporter, BBC NewsMRI scans are an established way of diagnosing brain conditionsMeasures are needed to stop brain scans being misused by courts, insurers and employers, experts have warned.
Some research suggests the technique can show whether a person is lying if certain areas of the brain "light-up".
At least one US company is offering scans to employers recruiting staff but American courts have already rejected attempts to use them in legal cases.
The University of Edinburgh's Burkhard Schafer said there were issues over privacy and reliability of technology.
The subject is being discussed by experts from around the world at a conference at the Institute of Advanced Studies in Glasgow.
'The next frontier'
Attempts have been made to use magnetic resonance imaging scans as lie detectors or to demonstrate mental health problems in more than 90 capital punishment cases in the US, as well as in other proceedings in Europe and Asia.
As soon as public awareness increases there will be interest from everyone from daytime entertainment programmes to employers and the legal system Burkhard Schafer, University of EdinburghWhile they have been rejected in many cases, scan results have sometimes been accepted as evidence.
Mr Schafer, co-director of the SCRIPT Centre for Research in Intellectual Property and Technology at the University of Edinburgh's school of law, said the UK had to consider how to prevent MRI scans being misused - and how to protect people's privacy.
"After data mining and online profiling, brain imaging could well become the next frontier in the privacy wars.
"The promise to read a person's mind is beguiling, and some applications will be greatly beneficial.
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