--- title: "Scientists Jack Into Subjects’ Brains, Find That They Can Identify Deepfakes Subconsciously" description: "Deepfakes are a growing threat and detecting them is only getting harder. But a new study says our subconscious is surprisingly good at identifying them." date: "2022-07-13" modified: "2022-07-13" authors: - name: "Frank Landymore" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/flandymore" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-brains-identify-deepfakes" categories: - "Brain" - "Health & Medicine" tags: - "deepfake" - "deepfakes" - "EEG" - "the digest" --- # Scientists Jack Into Subjects’ Brains, Find That They Can Identify Deepfakes Subconsciously ![Deepfakes are a growing threat, and detecting them is only getting harder. A new study says our subconscious is surprisingly effective at detecting them.]() *\Image: Getty Images/Futurism\* ## Simulacrum As deepfakes — AI powered likenesses of human faces and voices — grow increasingly prevalent, the ability to detect them becomes more imperative. But a provocative [new study]() claims that our brains can subconsciously detect deepfakes, even if our conscious minds are deceived. Conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Sydney, the findings indicate that subjects’ brains, which were being monitored using electroencephalography (EEG), were successfully able to detect deepfakes 54 percent of the time. But when an earlier group was asked to verbally identify the same deepfakes, their success rate was only 37 percent. Although more research is needed, the findings presage the intriguing possibility of tech that leverages the immense processing power of our own brains — by identifying knowledge we're not even consciously aware of. ## Starting Point The researchers performed two experiments. In the first, subjects were shown a series of 50 images that depicted both real and deepfaked human faces, which they identified verbally. Next, the researchers brought in a new batch of subjects who looked at the same mix of 50 images, but this time their brains were monitored using EEG neuroimaging. "Although the brain accuracy rate in this study is low — 54 percent — it is statistically reliable," said senior researcher and associate professor Thomas Carlson, in a [press release](). Impersonating individuals using technology isn’t new, but the relative ease with which it can now be done is novel. Not too long ago, you’d have to bear a striking resemblance to the person you were trying to impersonate or be skilled at special or visual effects. But with deepfakes, well, [pretty much anyone]() can make one. The scientists don’t think this will lead to a definitive method of identifying deepfakes, but it is a start. "More research must be done," Carlson added. "What gives us hope is that deepfakes are created by computer programs, and these programs leave ‘fingerprints’ that can be detected." In the meantime, and until better techniques of deepfake detection are developed, stay vigilant. There's a whole swathe of deepfakes abound online, representing everything from [malicious disinformation]() to [weirdo impersonations]() of famous celebs. **More on deepfakes:** [*The FBI Says Scammers Are Using Deepfakes to Apply to Remote Jobs*]() ## Author At Futurism, my work has often centered on bringing a sense of clarity and insight to complex topics ranging from the regulation of emerging technologies to the esoteric ideologies of Silicon Valley executives, while striving not to lose the poetic sense of awe inspired by often-obscure fields like astrophysics and quantum computing. I broke the story of CNET using AI to produce articles that turned out to be riddled with factual errors and plagiarism — a dam-breaking inflection point, as I've reported, that's inspired copycats and endless discourse while beguiling stakeholders ranging from tech giants to purveyors of spam around the web. My work at Futurism has been cited by publications including CBS News, the Los Angeles Times, Vice, Gizmodo, Engadget, the Verge, and Vanity Fair. I grew up in locales ranging from India to China, and now live in the exotic suburbs of Virginia. In my free time, I'm an avid reader of weird sci-fi literature, an aficionado of East Asian cinema, and, regrettably, a relapsed gamer. Allegedly, I’m working on a debut novel, currently untitled. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()