The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is a lofty goal. But, as Pontius Pilate said to Jesus, "What is truth?"
Researchers have long sought a scientifically sound technology that can tell, definitively, whether a person is lying. Now, functional MRI, which assesses brain function in a quick, noninvasive way with a high degree of both spatial and temporal accuracy, is being used commercially for deception detection.
No Lie MRI founder Joel Huizenga charges $5000 for a 45-minute session using 3T MRI in two Southern California locations. Huizenga has a degree in molecular biology and has worked for Smith Kline & French Laboratories. His 2003 patent application, based on research by the University of Pennsylvania's Dr. Daniel D. Langleben, an associate professor of psychiatry at the Veteran's Administration Medical Center, is pending.
Huizenga calls Langleben "independent" but acknowledges that the company has paid for his research. He estimates that the eventual market demand for fMRI lie detection scans will reach $3.6 billion. His clients, mostly men, usually are highly motivated.
"It has to do with sex, power, and money, in that order," Huizenga said.
Many of the men he sees have been accused of child molestation. Some are spouses trying to prove their fidelity.
"It's a massive issue among people," he said.
Women using his services are most often attempting to prove they've been faithful. Other clients have been involved in workers' compensation cases.
Huizenga's customers need a lot of hand-holding, he said.
"If you get accused of child molestation, there's nothing more important in your life," he said. He declined to say how many people his company has tested in the two years it has offered the service but noted that subjects must be compliant.
"Our customers are individuals who want to prove they're telling the truth," Huizenga said. "Liars aren't going to be customers."
