Lie-Tech.

Terry Harrington has spent the last 23 years serving a life sentence in an Iowa prison for a murder he claims he did not commit. Now a revolutionary lie- detection technology called "brain fingerprinting" may prove him not guilty. Developed by neuroscientist (brain scientist) Lawrence Farwell at Brain Wave Science in Fairfield, Iowa, the device records the brain's electrical response to crime-scene photos. "A guilty person has committed the crime, so the record is stored in his brain. Now we have a way to measure that scientifically," Farwell says.

Traditional lie detectors, like the polygraph, search for signs of emotional stress--increased pulse rate, blood pressure, breathing, and sweat--that are common symptoms of lying. But the test itself can cause stress, even if the test taker is telling the truth. And some liars can tightly control their emotions.

Brain fingerprinting, however, monitors brain waves, electrical signals created by nerve cells, which scientists believe are involuntary, or beyond conscious control. Farwell's device zeroes in on the activity of P300, a type of brain wave that "activates" when a person recognizes a familiar object, such as a crime weapon.

Harrington's P300 brain wave didn't respond when he was shown photos of the crime scene. "We determined with 99.99 percent confidence that information relevant to the crime was not stored in his brain," Farwell says.

Still, the judge believed the results would not have changed the outcome of his original trial in 1977 and denied him a new trial. Harrington is challenging the decision.

So far, brain fingerprinting has proved 100 percent reliable in 120 tests. Most polygraph tests have an accuracy rate of less than 70 percent. "In time, brain fingerprinting may be able to virtually eliminate false convictions," claims Farwell.

FAST FACT: Fingerprints are left behind in only 1% of crimes.

Another Lie-Detection Technology: Scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif., programmed a computer to read and analyze 46 facial expressions for cues that someone is lying. Lowering an eyebrow may reveal anger; downward-looking eyes could indicate feelings of shame or guilt.

Probing Memories

A new lie-detection device tests the hidden memories of a crime suspect.

1. Headband's sensors detect electrical changes in brain.

2. Monitor shows pictures related to the crime that only the criminal would recognize.

3. Brain waves are fed into a computer.

4. A guilty brain responds with a spike of electrical activity.

5. An "innocent" brain doesn't respond to crime-scene photos.

Traditional Lie Detector

Monitors body's response to questioning.

Device records response on paper.

Change here indicates stress; may mean suspect is lying.

breathing

pulse, blood pressure

sweating