Magicians have the uncanny ability to manipulate how people perceive the world, and this can be the key to understanding how the mind works. The techniques of misdirection provide a useful framework for studying attention and its link to eye movements, and magical methods are a valuable tool for designing research. Magic and illusions were central to the birth of experimental psychology at the turn of the last century, but fell out of fashion until recently rediscovered with the help of modern research techniques. Magicians have spent hundreds of years developing misdirection to keep audiences from being aware of events happening right in front of their noses. In this talk, Robert discusses how these effects are studied experimentally, and what the findings of magic research mean for the psychology of attention and awareness.
Robert Teszka is a consultant, science promoter and member of the Magic Circle in London. His work focuses on the techniques of conjurors, which can help us understand how people perceive their environment, make decisions, and interact with each other. His captivating talks inform the audience about how our own minds deceive us as readily as any magician, and how magician's tricks can help us understand our minds a bit better. Expect a curated collection of demonstrations, experiments, and original research — and perhaps a magic trick or two — as Robert attempts to convince you that sometimes, you just can't trust your own mind.
This event was originally the January speaker event, but has had to be postponed due to unforseen circumstances. It is now the February speaker event.