1. ERP and fMRI Research in the Detection of Deception
Jennifer M. C. Vendemia
Michael Schillaci - Robert Buzan - Eric Green - Scott Meek

2. Organization Theoretical Research with ERPs fMRI in 5 seconds
Current Deception Research with fMRI
Techniques combining multiple methods

3. Amplifier Buzz
Scalp, Skull
High Impendence
Random Brain Activity
Muscle

4. Aspects of deception in the ERP
P3a: An early attention
related component with
an anterior distribution and
positive deflection. Occurs
when one switches
tasks such as from telling
the truth to telling a lie.
P3b: A late component that
is related to decision
making, workload, inhibition,
and attention, and context
updating.
N400: A component that
occurs when what we’ve heard,
said, or seen does not match the
contents of our semantic (and
possibly) episodic memory. Anterior
distribution, negative deflection ms

5. ERPs: The Signal-Noise Approach
Signal: Brain wave associated with deception
Several potential waveforms are studied
The most consistent is the P300 evoked in an oddball paradigm with concealed information
Noise: Every other signal generated by the human brain

6. Reliability Few consistent findings
The Signal-Noise Approach has Historically Proven Inadequate for BOTH Polygraph and ERPs
Reliability Both measures deliver consistent results across repeated tests
Validity But NEITHER measure has been experimentally validated
They measure something, but not necessarily deception
The Signal-Noise Approach has no History with fMRI
Reliability Few consistent findings
Validity No validity with reliability

7. This technique allows us to watch the human brain in action.
Functional MRI
This technique allows us to watch the human brain in action.

8. Functional MRI
An MRI scanner can detect the magnetic change as blood flow increases in certain parts of the brain.
We can use this to determine which parts of the brain are most active.

9. Functional MRI Example: ask a person to move their eyes S1: sensation
M1: movement

10. Activated Parts of the Brain

11. *Additional regions: Hippocampal gyrus, left inferior parietal
Current Research in fMRI: Regions of Activation sited in Bhaat et al (in press)
Area 9, 10
VLPFC
Area 32
Area 8
Sensory Motor Strip
Area 21
Area 17
Caudate
Cerebellum
*Additional regions: Hippocampal gyrus, left inferior parietal

12. Individual Trials fMRI studies

13. Variability in fMRI Approaches
Within Subject Noise
Subject movement
Respiratory, cardiac artifacts
Scanner instability
Attentional modulation
Inconsistent cognitive strategy
Learning effects
Drugs and medications
Anxiety
Countermeasures
Between Subject Noise
Consistent differences in factors related to within subject noise
Anatomic variability
Cytoarchitectonic variability
Variability in venous drainage patterns
Differences in hemoglobin concentrations
Between Paradigm Noise
Inconsistent definition of the type of deception
DIfferences in the rate, number, and type of stimuli presented
Differences in the type of memory to which the participants deceive
Differences in reward/punishment scenario

15. Incidental Measurement Differences

16. Example paradigm differences
Spence, Farrow, Herford, Wilkinson, Zheng, and Woodruff (2001): directed lies to episodic memory
Langleben, Schroeder, Maldjian, Gur, McDonald, Ragland, O’Brien, and Childress (2002): directed lies in a digit recall type task with cards
Lee, Liu, Tan, Chan, Mahankali, Feng, Hou, Fox, and Gao (2002): Feigned memory impairment to digit span and autobiographical memories
Ganis, Kosslyn, Stose, Thompson, and Yurgelun-Todd (2003): Planned lies vs. spontaneous lies to long latency episodic information
Kozel, Padgett, and George (2004): Planned lies to recently short latency episodic information
Faro, Mohamed, Gordon, Platek, Williams, and Ahmad (2004): Planned lies to short latency episodic information

17. Deception is a complicated socio-dynamic cognitive process
It is possible that deception is not the result of a unique structure or system within the human brain
Rather it is the result of several sub-processes that are also recruited during other socio-dynamic cognitive processes (like lecturing)

18. Conclusions from MRI Studies
Motivation: Kozel, Langleben, Phan
Orbitofrontal activation only present in Kozel
Autobiographical Memory: Ganis, Lee, Spence
Temporal activation present only in LEE
Weighing of multiple information sources—all studies
Prefrontal cortex: Lee, Ganis, Kozel, Faro
Resource allocation, attention switching, response conflict – all studies
Lee, Langleben, Ganis, Kozel, Faro, Spence, Phan
Regions of confusion
Cuneus, cerebellum

19. Conclusions These technologies are not ready for practical application
The issues that limit the utility of ERP and fMRI have nothing to do with the equipment
The major problems all revolve around the supporting science
The science is currently in its infancy, and has thus far had a troubled development