Commercial use

Most fMRI scans are for research or clinical use. Commercial use is limited. However, a few companies have been set up that attempt to sell fMRI specific hardware or services for research or clinical use, e.g.,

• Omneuron is a US-based company that is researching potential practical and clinical applications of real-time fMRI.
• Applied fMRI Institut is a San Diego, CA based company offering commercial use of their Siemens 3T TIM Trio.
• Imagilys is a European company specialized in clinical and research fMRI.

At least two companies have been set up to use fMRI in lie detection (No Lie MRI, Inc and Cephos Corporation). The utility of lie detection with fMRI is questioned. In episode 93 of the popular science show Mythbusters, the three members of the build team attempted to fool an fMRI test. Although two of them were unsuccessful, the third was able to successfully fool the machine. The signals are extrapolated from the fMRI machine onto a screen, displaying the active regions of the brain. Depending on what regions are the most active, the technician might determine whether a subject is telling the truth or not. This technology is in its early stages of development, and many of its proponents hope to replace older lie detection techniques.