Next time you watch Meet the Parents, the lie detector test used on Ben Stiller will be out of date - some companies are now replacing the old polygraphs with new imaging techniques. Yesterday Paul Wolpe, chief bioethicist for NASA, senior fellow of the Penn Center for Bioethics and Sociology professor, spoke to students about emerging brain imaging technology and the underlying ethical and legal implications of these innovations. The increasing utilization of fMRI, fNIR and thermographic imaging for lie detection were among the main topics of discussion. Already, companies such as Cephos and No Lie MRI offer neuroimaging services to the public for lie detection purposes. However, societal applications of this technology may be problematic, particularly regarding legal rights to privacy, according to Wolpe. "You can use brain imaging for lie detection and to detect subjective aspects of peoples' thoughts," Wolpe said. "However, the use of this technology in court to question witnesses has implications regarding the Fifth Amendment, which grants protection against self-incrimination during testimony." Currently, hair, blood, DNA and diaries are not admissible as testimonial evidence, but there is no rule regarding brain imaging technology. "My position is [that] no one for any reason should have the right to pry into someone else's brain. The state's right for invasion of privacy ends at the skull," Wolpe said. "But I'm not against this technology developing. I am interested in regulations that control the use of it." Concerns warranting caution that were discussed during the event included inaccuracy in scanning technologies, potential use as prophylactic screening measures of aptitude and ethical issues of "neuromarketing." He explained that neuromarketing is when companies use this technology to find out consumer desires. After the presentation, students engaged in a prolonged question and answer session with Wolpe bringing up various issues like terrorist lie detection and implanted false memories. According to College junior Bo Peng, "Neuroethics is a hot and prevalent topic. The issues we are faced with today with technology are very cool and sci-fi." The event was co-hosted by the Penn American Civil Liberties Union and Penn Bioethics Society as part of Penn ACLU's Rights Week.
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