Lie detection by functional magnetic resonance imaging.
The accurate detection of deception or lying is a challenge to experts in many scientific disciplines. To investigate if specific cerebral activation characterized feigned memory impairment, six healthy male volunteers underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging with a block-design paradigm while they performed forced-choice memory tasks involving both simulated malingering and under normal control conditions. Malingering that demonstrated the existence and involvement of a prefrontal-parietal-sub-cortical circuit with feigned memory impairment produced distinct patterns of neural activation. Because astute liars feign memory impairment successfully in testing once they understand the design of the measure being employed, our study represents an extremely significant preliminary step towards the development of valid and sensitive methods for the detection of deception.
Lee
Tatia M C
TM
Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. tmclee@hkusua.hku.hk
Liu
Ho-Ling
HL
Tan
Li-Hai
LH
Chan
Chetwyn C H
CC
Mahankali
Srikanth
S
Feng
Ching-Mei
CM
Hou
Jinwen
J
Fox
Peter T
PT
Gao
Jia-Hong
JH
D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008014:Lie Detection / Q000523:psychology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000502:physiology