Brain Scans in the Courtroom: Analyzing the General Perception of fMRI Memory Reconstruction Evidence
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Date
2020
Authors
Carlson, Emily Thérèse
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
This thesis seeks to assess the public perception of a new functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) facial memory reconstruction technology and its potential future usage in creating facial composites that could serve as criminal evidence. To accomplish this, we presented participants with a facial composite posed as evidence in a hypothetical criminal court case. Participants read one of two accompanying descriptions of how that facial composite was developed: (1) with fMRI memory reconstruction technology that scanned the brain of an eyewitness, or (2) with modern computer software where the eyewitness built the facial composite from memory. In order to measure and compare the participants’ perception of the two facial composite techniques, we presented them with a picture of the suspect’s face along with the facial composite and asked them to rate the suspect’s guilt, their confidence that the facial composite was actually the suspect, and the degree of similarity between the facial composite and the suspect’s face. Though ratings for each question were higher in the fMRI condition compared with the computer software condition, implying a possible increased level of trust, none of the differences were statistically significant. These results, therefore, serve as good news for this developing fMRI technology, such that its potential future usage in developing facial composites may not be subject to any harmful biases.
Description
35 pages
Keywords
Psychology, Neuroethics, Facial Composite, Evidence, Psychology, fMRI, Neuroscience