Brain ‘fingerprints’ may be used to identify people

Our brains have patterns of activity that are unique to each individual, similar to a fingerprint. While scientists have previously been able to identify such “fingerprints” based on two MRIs (magnetic resonance images) taken over a period of time, a peer-reviewed study published on Friday in the journal Science Advances found that these patterns can be identified in under two minutes.

The researchers also found that the aspects of brain “fingerprints” that allow them to be used for identification disappear over time in subjects with Alzheimer’s Disease, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).