Neuroimages play a growing role in biomedical research, medicine, and courtrooms, as well as in shaping our understanding of what it means to be human. But how helpful are they at answering complex questions such as: What is depression? Is a defendant lying? Do we have free will?

These are among the topics explored in Interpreting Neuroimages: An Introduction to the Technology and Its Limits, a special report of the Hastings Center Report. It is edited by Josephine Johnston, a research scholar and director of research, and Erik Parens, a senior research scholar, and it includes commentaries by leaders in neuroscience and its ethical implications. The report is the product of a project funded by The Dana Foundation.

Neuroimaging technologies capture information about the brain as a person thinks, feels, and experiences sensations. They will be indispensable to the BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) initiative launched by the federal government this year to advance understanding of the human brain and brain disorders.

The report is available for free.