da/sec scientific talk on Biometrics

Topic: Visual Attention in Spotting Face Manipulations: Methodologies for Differential Stimulus Eye-tracking

by Robert Nichols
D19/2.03a (also online via the corresponding BBB room), February 19, 2026 (Thursday), 12.00 noon

Keywords — Eye-tracking, Digital face manipulation, Super-recognizers, Manipulation detection, Visual attention

Abstract

„The unprecedented advancement and widespread availability of digital face manipulation tools have created sophisticated attack vectors capable of generating high-quality, low-artifact manipulations that challenge both automated face recognition systems and human perception. These modern techniques produce visually convincing face swaps, morphs, and retouched images that pose a threat to biometric verification systems and trust in digital media alike. To enhance the performance of current automated detection systems, a better understanding of high-performing humans on this task may prove beneficial.

This work reviews previous eye-tracking analysis approaches and explores novel evaluation methodology to investigate human visual attention patterns when detecting manipulated images in a differential stimulus task. We extend the concept of super-recognizers and identify „super detectors“ with exceptional manipulation detection abilities. Building on recent findings that super-recognizers demonstrate significantly superior detection capabilities across manipulation types, our research employs high-resolution eye-tracking to analyse where these exceptional performers direct their visual attention.

Our methodology reveals that super detectors exhibit distinctive scanning behaviours, making more fixations on critical zones between manipulated and bona fide images, with particular attention to periocular areas.“