Embracing Deepfakes and AI-generated images in Neuroscience Research

Abstract

While deepfake technology and AI-generated images have generated concerns about their misuse in society, this opinion piece highlights the potential benefits and applications of these technologies in neuroscience research. Deepfakes have been utilised to create realistic, dynamic face stimuli, allowing researchers to isolate and manipulate specific features, expressions, and behaviours for a better understanding of social perception. AI-generated medical and neuroimaging scans have the potential to enhance the training of AI models for automatically detecting rare neurological pathologies, thereby aiding clinicians while also enhancing our understanding of brain structure and function.The authors argue that experimental psychologists and cognitive neuroscientists should stay informed about these emerging tools and embrace their potential to advance the field of visual neuroscience.