Judge in Aurora shootings approved use of drugs for competency evaluation . Sodium pentothal -- the original `` truth serum '' -- was discovered in 1936 by Ernest H. Volwiler and Donalee L. Tabern working in Chicago at Abbott Laboratories . The judge said the defendant was competent to stand trial and that he would be tried as an adult. No drug can shed light on mindset of shooting suspect Holmes . He says `` truth serum , '' or sodium pentothal , is used as anesthesia for surgeries . Caplan : Only Hollywood likes the idea of `` truth serum , '' not scientists .
Judge in Aurora shootings approved use of drugs for competency evaluation . The judge said the defendant was competent to stand trial and that he would be tried as an adult. No drug can shed light on mindset of shooting suspect Holmes . He says `` truth serum , '' or sodium pentothal , is used as anesthesia for surgeries . Caplan : Only Hollywood likes the idea of `` truth serum , '' not scientists .