You will tell the truth!

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We have seen that our ability to detect lies is somewhat circumspect.  The conventional polygraph is dependent upon the skill of the technician; its accuracy ranges from 65% to 90%.  This is about the range for some of the newer devices (e.g., the Ugail device).

Drs. Bachmann and Karton (University of Tartu, Estonia) have ventured upon a completely different approach.  They focused their efforts on the part of the brain that exerts cognitive control, the dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).  And, the use of a magnet.  Actually, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which is a pulsating electromagnet.  TMS has been found to improve the social skills of those suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome and autism.  Their ‘lying’ research was published in Behavioral Brain Research.

Two different portions of the brain were subjected to TMS- the DLPFC and the parietal cortex (a portion of the brain NOT associated with cognitive control).  TMS was applied to a non-functional (in controlling lies) portion of the brain to serve as the control. While being subjected to TMS, the 16 volunteers were asked to name the colors they viewed on a computer screen; they could lie or tell the truth, as they so desired.

If the left portion of the DLPFC were stimulated, people seemed to lie more frequently.  If the right side were the potion stimulated, they lied less so.  But don’t get excited- while the effect was significant, the overall changes were small.  It’s entirely possible that this region (DLPFC) is NOT the entire region that would be associated with deception, which is why the overall affect was so small.  And, it did not help matters that the population census was so small.

This concept may provide more useful results,  if used in conjunction with fMRI, using devices such as the one we have reported earlier when we discussed Dr. Farwell’s innovation.  But, for now, theirs is just another try to solve our problem with lying and truth, one that does not match what science fiction always promises us.

So, to answer the title: No, not yet!Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A.

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2 thoughts on “You will tell the truth!”

  1. Wow, very interesting. I have to say that as great as it would be to have a device to determine if people lie, I am more excited by the video information about this technique being used for depression. I, for one, hate ever having to take any kind of medication. The fact that this electronic stimulation of the brain may replace certain meds for certain conditions is very promising. Although I wonder how often it would be needed and how much the cost would be. But, back to your post about detecting lies, it seems that between all the different methods that are being tested, they must be getting close to something, or a combination of things, but I can’t help but wonder what is the cost of all this? Will it pay off in the end?

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