Detecting magical mental tampering...how to?

[Lochmonster]

Hi!

I was just wondering if there was a way to detect if spells like Modify Memory or Sow Thought were used on a person. If so how? What spells would you use to scan someones mind if they suspect their memories were altered?

Sow Thought:

You plant an idea, concept, or suspicion in the mind of the subject. The target genuinely believes that the idea is his own, but is not required to act upon it. If the idea is contrary to the target's normal thoughts (such as making a paladin think, "I should murder my friends") the target may suspect mind-altering magic is at play. The idea must be fairly clear, enough so that it can be conveyed in one or two sentences. You do not need to share a common language for the spell to succeed, but without a common language you can only sow the most basic rudimentary ideas.

Modify Memory:

You reach into the subject's mind and modify as many as 5 minutes of its memories in one of the following ways.

Eliminate all memory of an event the subject actually experienced. This spell cannot negate charm, geas/quest, suggestion, or similar spells.
Allow the subject to recall with perfect clarity an event it actually experienced.
Change the details of an event the subject actually experienced.
Implant a memory of an event the subject never experienced.

Casting the spell takes 1 round. If the subject fails to save, you proceed with the spell by spending as much as 5 minutes (a period of time equal to the amount of memory you want to modify) visualizing the memory you wish to modify in the subject. If your concentration is disturbed before the visualization is complete, or if the subject is ever beyond the spell's range during this time, the spell is lost.

A modified memory does not necessarily affect the subject's actions, particularly if it contradicts the creature's natural inclinations. An illogical modified memory is dismissed by the creature as a bad dream, too much wine, or another similar excuse.

[Petty Alchemy]

The durations are listed as permanent, not instantaneous. That means you can detect and dispel these spells.

[Lochmonster]

Petty Alchemy wrote:

The durations are listed as permanent, not instantaneous. That means you can detect and dispel these spells.

So someone subjected to these spells would detect as magical using detect magic?

The spell could be determined using a Spellcraft check, then dispelled using the usual means (dispel magic Break Enchantment etc)?

[Petty Alchemy]

Yup, easy peasy. Contrast with something like Animate Dead, which has an instantaneous duration. That's why you need Detect Undead to find them, and you can't just turn them into bones with Dispel Magic.