Criminal Minds: Brain scans spot the difference between intent and recklessness

In the US Model Penal Code, a suspect’s state of mind while committing a crime can drastically affect the punishment they receive. Specifically, someone who knew that what they were doing was wrong will face harsher penalties than someone who was acting recklessly or negligently. The problem is that it can be hard to know for sure where that line is. In a move that could help clear things up, neuroscientists from Virginia Tech have found that brain imaging techniques can tell the difference, which may help inform future law.

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Future courts will have technology to read minds

Someone will sit in a chair, wearing a helmet device.

Pie in the sky.

But more seriously, if brain scans can spot mental illness as efficiently as they can spot physical illness then that could be extremely valuable.