The Truth In Lie Detection

After changing my next read from The Big Thirst to The Lying Brain, I came across an article regarding lie detection technology and how valid it actually is. I was surprised of how doubtful I became of the technology, which before reading the article I believed was rather advanced and foolproof.

 Some of the major problems with lie detection technology lie in its validity due to countermeasures that interrogated suspects can take. For years, lie detection has consisted of questioning combined with observations of physiological responses. The problem with this form of lie detection is based on how easily physiological responses can be triggered. Subtle, unseen actions such as biting your tongue or pressing your toes into the ground can trigger a physiological response, making each question asked have the same affect on the interrogated individual. In this sense, there is no difference in response between any questions, making it impossible to tell if a person is lying.
         In addition to validity problems, the brain’s unique qualities that vary from person to person raise question as to how scientists can accurately tell what a lie exactly is. Brain altering problems such as depression, personality disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease cause people’s brains to function differently from one another. For scientists to pinpoint a response in the brain to a lie seems rather absurd, as every person’s brain functions slightly differently.

In the article Emerging Technologies for Lie Detection: Promises and Perils, other problems including these are further described. I would highly suggest reading the article, as it not only provides great insight as to what new technology has been developed in the field of neuroscience, but also, the article allows you to form your own opinion on whether or not these technologies should be integrated into our society.