A further critique of brain fingerprinting: The possibility of propranolol usage by offenders

Abstract

Brain fingerprinting technology is designed to read subconscious signals in the brain and detect deception. The technology has been subjected to a number of criticisms already: it has the potential to violate three distinct rights, and researchers have shown that it can be deceived through intentional suppression of memories. This article suggests a further reason to doubt the utility of the technology for criminal justice officials; specifically, the potential for defendants to pharmaceutically erase their own memories using beta-blockers such as propranolol, such that there would no longer be a memory of the crime for brain fingerprinting technology to detect.