2. Brain fingerprinting is a computer based technology designed
to determine hidden information in individual’s brain by
measuring electrical brain wave responses to words, phrases,
or pictures presented on a computer screen.
Brain fingerprints are measured by an EEG event-related
potential, a P300-MERMER.
3. The Invention
Brain fingerprinting was invented by Lawrence Farewell.
Brain fingerprinting technology is based on an electrical signal
known as MERMER ( Memory and Encoding Related
Multifaceted Electroencephalographic Response ).
Farewell’s brain fingerprinting originally used the well-known
P300 brain response to detect the brain’s recognition of the
known information.
4. Operating Mechanism
Picture/word shown
to an individual
(Stimulus)
Generates
brainwave
(P300)
Triggers neurons
of brain
Electrical
Potentials
Accumulate in
brain
(MERMER)
P300-MERMER
(An scalp ERP
EEG) Measures
brainwaves
Headgear
fitted with
Electrodes
placed on
scalp
EEG Amplifier
Generates analog signalsFound Guilty/
Not Guilty
Study the data using a
computer program
5. Types of stimuli used
Probes :
Life-experience related.
Relevant to the investigatedevent-recognizable and noteworthyonlyfor the subjects whohad
participated in the event (MERMER).
Pusha buttonto indicateknown image.
Containsrelevant information.
Createsa baseline.
Information relevant to the crime that the suspect claimsto have no knowledge of.
Targets :
Irrelevant Stimuli :
6. How Brain Waves are used to detect
guilt?A suspect is tested by looking at three kinds of information
represented by different colored lines :
RED :
BLUE :
GREEN :
Information the suspectis expected to know it
arises due to target type stimulus.
Information not to suspect. Theirrelevant
stimuli is responsible for this type of brain
waves.
Information of the crime that only perpetrator
would know. This occurs due to probes.
7. A suspect is provided with information as follows :
In this figure the red and blue lines
are closely correlated, suspect has
knowledge of crime
Information regarding the crime
is not known
8. Phases Of Brain Fingerprinting
There are four stages to Brain Fingerprinting:
1. Crime Scene Evidence Collection: Gathering evidences from crime scenes.
2. Brain Evidence Collection: A specialist checks whether the crime scene
evidence matches evidence stored in brain.
3. Computer Evidence Analysis: Computerized analysis is done on the brain
evidences and statistical methods are applied to move to the next phase.
4. Scientific Result: Finding whether the person is guilty or not guilty.
9. The interpretation in brainfingerprinting is to look for P300 as response to stimuli related
to crime in question, e.g. A murder weapon or a victim’s face.
It is based on EEGsignals, The systemdoes not require the testee to issuea verbal response
to questions or stimuli.
It uses cognitive brain responses, and it does not dependon the emotions of the subject, nor
is it affectedby emotional responses.
It is different frompolygraph (Lie-Detector), which measures emotion-based physiological
signals suchas heart rate, sweating and blood pressure.
Unlike polygraphtesting, it does not attempt to determine whether the subject is lying or
telling the truth.
10. Electroencephalography
Electroencephalography (EEG) is the measurement of
electrical activity produced by the brain as recorded from
electrodes placed on the scalp.
Scalp EEG is collected from tens to hundreds of electrodes
positioned on different locations at the surface of the head.
EEG signals (in the range of milli-volts) are amplified and
digitalized for later processing.
11. Source of EEG Activity
Scalp EEG activity oscillates at multiple frequencies having
different characteristics spatial distributions associated with
different states of brain functioning such as waking and sleeping.
These oscillations represent synchronized activity over a network
of neurons.
12. Method of EEG
Scalp EEG, the recording is obtained by placing electrodes on the
scalp.
Each electrode is connected to one input of a differential amplifier
and a common system reference electrode is connected to the other
input of each differential amplifier.
In digital EEG systems, the amplified
signal is digitized via an analog-to-digital
converter.
13. Applications
CRIMINAL JUSTICE: The key difference between a guilty party and an
innocent suspect is that the perpetrator of the crime has a record of the
crime stored in their brain, and the innocent suspect does not. Until the
invention of Brain Fingerprinting testing, there was no scientifically valid
way to detect this fundamental difference.
MEDICAL FIELD: Brain Fingerprinting is the patented technology that
can measure objectively, for the first time, how memory and cognitive
functioning of Alzheimer sufferers are affected by medications.
14. Advantages
Identify criminals quickly and scientifically.
Record of 100% accuracy.
Identify terrorists and members of gangs, criminal
and intelligence organizations.
Reduce expenditure of money and other resources in
law enforcement.
Reduce evasion of justice.
15. Limitations
Brain Fingerprinting detects information processing brain
responses that reveal what information is stored in the subject’s
brain. It does not detect how that information got there.
Brain Fingerprinting does not detect lies. It simply detects
information. No questions are asked or answered during a Brain
Fingerprinting test.
16. Conclusion
It would be inappropriate to generalize the results of the
present research because of the small sample of subjects.
But the 100% accuracy and high confidence level of the
results, however, provide further support for results from
previous research using brain MERMER testing.