---
type: source
id: lago-2022-more-real-than-real
title: 'More real than real: A study on human visual perception of synthetic faces'
authors:
- Federica Lago
- Cecilia Pasquini
- Rainer Böhme
- Hélène Dumont
- Valérie Goasdoué
- Giulia Boato
year: 2022
venue: IEEE Signal Processing Magazine
volume: 39(1)
pages: 109-116
doi: 10.1109/MSP.2021.3120982
peer_review: peer-reviewed-journal
evidence_tier: B
design: Perceptual experiment rating realism of real vs synthetic faces
modality:
- image-face
stimuli: StyleGAN2 faces vs real faces
n_participants: null
n_note: not recorded
topics:
- human-detection
- hyperrealism
summary: An early report that StyleGAN2 faces were rated as more real than real faces.
results:
- metric: Realism ratings
  value: synthetic ≥ real
  note: ''
  source_location: null
moderators: []
limitations:
- Single generator
verification:
  status: unverified
  confidence: medium
  checked: null
  via: compiler knowledge; DOI not resolved
url: null
pmid: null
pmcid: null
arxiv_id: null
openalex_id: null
oa_url: null
cited_in:
- MR-0001
updated: '2026-10-07'
---

# More real than real: A study on human visual perception of synthetic faces

> **Source record** `lago-2022-more-real-than-real` · 2022 · IEEE Signal Processing Magazine  
> **Evidence tier:** B (peer-reviewed-journal) · **Verification:** unverified (compiler confidence: medium)  
> **Bottom line:** An early report that StyleGAN2 faces were rated as more real than real faces.

## Citation {#citation}

Federica Lago, Cecilia Pasquini, Rainer Böhme, Hélène Dumont, Valérie Goasdoué, Giulia Boato (2022). More real than real: A study on human visual perception of synthetic faces. *IEEE Signal Processing Magazine*, 39(1), 109-116. https://doi.org/10.1109/MSP.2021.3120982

Verification entry (identifiers, resolvers, claims with source locations): [/data/citations.json#lago-2022-more-real-than-real](/data/citations.json#lago-2022-more-real-than-real)

## Study design {#design}

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Design | Perceptual experiment rating realism of real vs synthetic faces |
| Modality | image-face |
| Stimuli | StyleGAN2 faces vs real faces |
| Participants (N) | not recorded |
| N detail | not recorded |
| Topics | human-detection, hyperrealism |

## Results {#results}

| Metric | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Realism ratings | synthetic ≥ real |  |

## Limitations {#limitations}

- Single generator

## Cited in {#cited-in}

- [MR-0001](/metareports/human-detection-accuracy.md): Human Detection of Deepfakes: Accuracy, Bias, Confidence, and Training

## Verification {#verification}

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | `unverified` |
| Compiler confidence | medium |
| Checked on | — |
| Via | compiler knowledge; DOI not resolved |

Values on this page have not all been checked against the full text. Confirm them against the primary source before high-stakes use.