2. Overview What’s new here? – Comparison with genetics Triage concerns about neuroimaging Two examples of problematic applications – fMRI lie detection – SPECT imaging for psychiatric diagnosis Concluding thoughts

3. What’s new?

4. Experience Behavior

5. Distinctive characteristics of neuroimaging (Distinctive in their societal implications)

6. Distinctive characteristics of neuroimaging Relative to genetic testing and research More sensitive measure of causes of behavior Reflects environmental determinants of behavior Captures learned psychological traits Captures psychological states as well as traits Suggests targets for more feasible intervention Relative to psychological testing and research Often more sensitive Information sought may be not evident to subject

7. Problematic characteristics of neuroimaging (Problematic in their societal implications)

8. Problematic characteristics of neuroimaging Familiar concerns Validity across ages, levels of SES, cultures etc. Incidental findings Privacy of records Overdrawn concerns Mind reading Blood not brain Statistical voodoo Inordinately persuasive

9. Problematic characteristics of neuroimaging More new challenges Public (and policymaker) understanding – Inferential not photographic – Brain -/-> Innate, immutable – No more or less “real” than behavioral evidence Reverse inference Balance of public-private ownership and transparency

10. fMRI lie detection Basic science makes leap to commercial product

11. fMRI lie detection Basic science makes leap to commercial product

12. fMRI lie detection Basic science makes leap to commercial product Potential uses: relationship issues, personnel screening, legal testimony, national security 2 attempts to use in court in 2010

13. Diagnostic neuroimaging in psychiatry Neuroimaging plays a vital role in psychiatry research, but… Broad consensus against any current role in diagnosis Yet…

14. Diagnostic neuroimaging in psychiatry

17. In these and other applications of neuroimaging Wishful thinking, Allure of Science, Profit motive, Undetermined validity, accuracy Potential for harm to individuals and society

18. Concluding thoughts Part of something broader – full flowering of neuroscience, interventions, our selves as brains Promising new technology for addressing societal problems involving human thought, emotion and behavior. Only premature uses: Bogus and potentially harmful Policy: Sparing use of regulation; encourage research – There is little here that could not be corrected by fuller knowledge – This would also accelerate the development of socially beneficial applications of neuroimaging – For our nation as well as others

19. Thank you