Tom Cruise brain scanning to fight crime in Minority Report. Photographer: AP Photo/David James

According to a team of world-leading neuroscientists we could soon have the ability to look inside a person's brain and read their intentions before they act. John-Dylan Hayes, a scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, attempted to simplify functional magnetic imaging resonance techniques by saying, "It's like shining a torch around, looking for writing on the wall."

As the technology becomes more refined society will face complex ethical questions about the use of brain scanners in police interrogation. Many fear that brain scanning could become so sophisticated that we will enter a "Minority Report" era where judgments will be handed down before crimes are even committed.

It's not all doom and gloom though. Imagine if these amazing new powers could be put to use in our everyday lives: men could finally discover what women really want and no one would ever receive a rubbish Christmas present again.

If you had the power to read minds, what would you do with it?