Brain fingerprinting: A comprehensive tutorial review of detection of concealed information with event-related brain potentials

Abstract

Brain fingerprinting (BF) detects concealed information stored in the brain by measuring brainwaves. A specific EEG event-related potential, a P300-MERMER, is elicited by stimuli that are significant in the present context. BF detects P300-MERMER responses to words/ pictures relevant to a crime scene, terrorist training, bombmaking knowledge, etc. BF detects information by measuring cognitive information processing. BF does not detect lies, stress or emotion. BF computes a determination of ''information present'' or ''information absent'' and a statistical confidence for each individual determination. Laboratory and field tests at the FBI, CIA, US Navy and elsewhere have resulted in 0% errors: no false positives and no false negatives. 100% of determinations made were correct. 3% of results have been ''indeterminate.'' BF has been applied in criminal cases and ruled admissible in court. Scientific standards for BF tests are discussed. Meeting the BF scientific standards is necessary for accuracy and validity. Alternative techniques that failed to meet the BF scientific standards produced low accuracy and susceptibility to countermeasures. BF is highly resistant to countermeasures. No one has beaten a BF test with countermeasures, despite a $100 000 reward for doing so. Principles of applying BF in the laboratory and the field are discussed. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.