FMRI

Truth is the key element that is sought out in courtrooms . Court proceedings are designed to find truth and hand out judgment in those cases . Unfortunately , truth is often elusive because the different parties wish to manipulate the truth to alter the final judgment Consequently , many forms of lie detection have been established to prevent such an occurrence . These new methods represent the cutting edge of scientific achievement . They use the latest in technology and scientific theory to derive truthfulness from a subject . This should be welcomed with open arms in the

modern court system . Unfortunately certain court decisions have made introducing some lie detecting methods more difficult to introduce in a case

Lie detection has taken many forms over the years . Probably the most common is the polygraph . According to Wikipedia a polygraph measures and records several physiological responses such as blood pressure pulse , respiration and skin conductivity while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions (Polygraph 2007 . Probably the most sinister is sodium triopental , or truth serum , is a drug that helps people become less likely to lie . It is often shown in movies by those who are trying to forcibly obtain information from the subject . Its Wikipedia article explains the drug makes the subject more compliant The drug decreases higher brain activity and since lying is more complex than simply telling the truth the subject is less likely to lie , or so goes the theory (Sodium 2007 . Unfortunately , a good or habitual liar can probably find his or her way to pass these tests

Another method called Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging , or fMRI is another method that uses the measurement of brain activity to determine if the subject is lying . The measured aspect of this method is has to do with scientific study called hemodynamics . According to its Wikipedia article hemodynamics literally means blood movement and is the study of blood flow (circulation ) throughout the body . As people breathe in oxygen a transportation system of that oxygen is needed to get it throughout the body . The oxygen is needed for the conversion of carbohydrates , fats and proteins into carbon dioxide , water and energy in a process called aerobic respiration . Circulation carries the necessary oxygen and other chemicals to the body 's cells as well as removing the waste from those cells . Without this process no animal would exist (Hemodynamics 2007

This circulation process is driven by several factors , but primarily by the rhythmic beating of the heart known as cardiac output . The heart muscle pumps the blood throughout the body . However , other factors include circulating blood volume , respiration , vascular diameter and resistance , and blood viscosity . Each of these is affected by diet exercise , disease , drugs and alcohol , and excess weight (Hemodynamics 2007

In the 1890s , it was found that blood circulation to the brain is closely linked to neural activity of the subject . Wikipedia contributors explain that nerve cells in the brain consume oxygen from blood when the cell is active . This means that...