Can an MRI Scan Be Used to Identify a Person?

When it comes to the use of MRI scans in identifying individuals, the answer is not straightforward. MRI scans are primarily tools for diagnosing medical conditions, but under certain circumstances, they can play a role in identifying a person. Let's explore the various aspects and limitations of using an MRI scan for this purpose.

Basic Limitations of MRI for Identification

Most MRI scans are performed for diagnostic purposes, such as assessing brain or body conditions. Therefore, they are not designed with the primary goal of identifying individuals. However, if a unique lesion or anomaly is found on an MRI scan, it could potentially be used as a form of identification. This is because such anomalies might be quite rare and could be unique to an individual. Nevertheless, this method would be highly resource-intensive and less reliable than a DNA test.

Reconstructing a Portrait from an MRI

While a typical MRI scan alone cannot be used to identify an individual in an official capacity, there are advanced techniques that could enable the creation of a recognizable image based on an MRI. For instance, if you had a detailed and comprehensive scan of someone's head, a 3D reconstruction could be made to form a resemblance of that person. This, however, could be achieved without an MRI, as a simple selfie would suffice for most casual purposes.

Facial Reconstruction and Its Potential Application

Research has shown that facial images can be reconstructed from MRI scans, opening up new possibilities for identification. A notable study published in NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine) demonstrated the feasibility of this technique. The researchers used simple facial recognition software to identify people from MRI-reconstructed images with an accuracy of over 80%.

The top row of images in the study shows photographs of participants, the middle row shows photographs with closed eyes for reference, and the bottom row displays the faces reconstructed from MRI data. The model was able to match the reconstructed faces to the open-eyed photos 83% of the time, and the correct face was in the top five most likely matches in 95% of the cases.

Identification Based on Brain Structure

Even without facial reconstruction techniques, specific slices of a head scan can provide distinct information about an individual's facial features. The shape of the forehead, nose, lips, and chin can be highly distinctive and easy to recognize. In some cases, a simple comparison between scans of the same person can also reveal unique identifiers. The substantial individual variation in brain structure can make it relatively easy to match one's own brain scan with a previously stored one.

Other Areas of the Body

Furthermore, it's worth mentioning that similar techniques could potentially be applied to other areas of the body. While the brain doesn't change in structure as significantly as other organs, MRIs of other regions might also be feasible, although the accuracy could be more challenging to achieve.

Conclusion

While an MRI scan itself is not a primary tool for identification, it can, under certain conditions, be used as part of a larger investigation, especially if it includes high-resolution facial images or other unique anatomical features. However, the reliability and practicality of this method compared to more established techniques such as DNA analysis or facial recognition systems should be carefully considered.