FORENSICS : BRAIN

FINGERPRITING

U. E. Umana
 INTRODUCTION
Forensics is the application of science to law.
Is used to investigate criminal cases,
violation of laws or regulations.


Brain Fingerprinting is a controversial

forensic science technique that determines
whether specific information is stored in a
subject’s brain by measuring electrical
brainwave responses to words, phrases, or
pictures that are presented on a computer
screen (Farwell & Smith 2001).

 BACKGROUND
"Brain fingerprinting" is a computer-based test that is designed
to discover, document, and provide evidence of guilty
knowledge regarding crimes, and to identify individuals with a
specific training. It has also been used to evaluate brain
functioning as a means of early detection of Alzheimer’s and
other cognitively degenerative diseases.

Brain fingerprinting was invented by Lawrence Farwell.

Brain Fingerprinting was an international finalist in the
Global Security Challenge 2008 in London.


 HOW BRAIN FINGER
PRINTING TESTING
WORKS
The fundamental difference between the
perpetrator of a crime and an innocent person is
that the perpetrator, having committed the crime,
has the details of the crime stored in his
memory, and the innocent suspect does not.
This is what Brain fingerprinting testing detects
scientifically, the presence or absence of specific
information.

WHAT’S INVOLVED IN
SETTING UP A BRAIN
FINGERPRINTING TEST?
Details that the brain records and remembers;
In criminal case we utilize information gathered from
the investigations to identify those details of the
crime that a perpetrator would have encountered in
the commission of the crime.


Define specific information;

In medical areas we construct test specific for
information appropriate for the subject.



 TESTING
A specific electrical brain wave response
known as P300 is emitted by the brain
within a fraction of seconds.


P300 is one aspect of a larger brain

response called MERMER, which
comprises a P300 response occurring
300-800 milliseconds after the stimulus.
 METHOD
A sequence of words, pictures or sounds is
presented under computer control for a
fraction of seconds.

Three types of stimuli are presented:

Targets
Irrelevants
Probes


Elicition of MERMER

 COMPUTER
CONTROLLED

"Information Absent" 

Dr . Farwell Fingerprinting Test l

Conducting a Brain

"Information Present"
 APPLICATIONS


Helps to Exonerate the Innocent



Helps to Catch a Serial Killer



National Security Applications



Medical Diagnostics

EXONERATE THE
INNOCENT
Terry Harrington was convicted of murder in 1978.

In 2000 Dr. Farwell conducted a brain fingerprinting
which showed the record stored in his brain did not
match that of the crime scene.

On Feb. 26 2003, the conviction was reversed.

Mr. Harrington is now a free man.
 CATCH A SERIAL
KILLER
J.B. Grinder, a suspect in an unsolved murder for 15
years.


The test results showed that the record stored in his

brain match one that only the perpetrator will know.


Grinder pleaded guilty in exchange for life in prison

without the possibility parole.


He then also confessed to the previously unsolved

murders of 3 other women.
 NATIONAL SECURITY
In a terrorist act, evidence such as finger prints or
DNA may not be available but the brain of the
perpetrator is always there-planning, executing and
recording.


Brain fingerprinting can detect these records and help

identify trained terrorists before they strike.


Will also help to improve security in areas like visa

applications.
 MEDICAL
DIAGNOSTICS
Using the very precise measurement of
cognitive functioning available with this
technology;
Pharmaceutical companies will be able to
determine more quickly effects of their
new drug.
Monitor the progress of patients.
Improve health care and quality of life for
millions of patients.

 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.


If, however, the suspect knows everything that the

investigators know about the crime for some
legitimate reason, then the test cannot be
applied.


Another situation where brain fingerprinting is not

applicable is one where the authorities have no
information about what crime may have taken
place.
 CONCLUSION
Innovations looks at the way this technology could
revolutionize the legal and medical system with the
hope it will become one of the most significant
breakthrough since the advent of DNA analysis.


This exciting new technology will be used to;

 Make criminal justice more fair and efficient.
 Speed up medications for Alzheimer’s.
 Provide scientific solutions to timeless problem.
 REFERENCE
www.Brainfingerprinting


Laboratories.com
www.Brainwavescience.com

 THANK YOU.