Magic in the lab: Psychological insights from magicians
June 1 @ 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
$20.00
Doors at 2:30pm
Dr. Barnhart reveals how magicians inspire science by exposing the quirks of attention & perception through illusion. Sunday Speaker Series.
Recent years have seen widespread interest in a “ science of magic ” that learns from the psychological insights and methods of magicians, who are themselves informal cognitive scientists testing their hypotheses in the real world. In just the last decade, renowned magicians have authored papers meant to be read not by magicians, but by scientists who study attention and perception. In his presentation, Dr. Barnhart will discuss the long history of interaction between psychologists and magicians. Along the way, using live performance and video, he will introduce some of the techniques and theories from the world of magic that have inspired research in laboratories around the world (including his own).
About Dr. Barnhart: Anthony Barnhart an Associate Professor of Psychological Science at Carthage College. He received his Ph.D. in Cognitive Science from Arizona State University, where he began his graduate career with the intention of being a language researcher. To this end, he has published foundational research examining the processes underlying handwritten word perception. However, Tony is also a part-time professional magician with over 30 years of performing experience. In recent years, psychological science has taken an active interest in the methods of magicians as an avenue for understanding and studying the mind. Tony’s current research borrows hypotheses and techniques from magic to study attention and perception in the laboratory. He has authored both empirical and theoretical works on the interface of science and magic, and he regularly teaches a college course devoted to the cognitive science of magic. A leader in this burgeoning field, he was a founding member of the Science of Magic Association and frequently appears in national and international media. Most recently, his work was featured on an episode of the CBC’s The Nature of Things with David Suzuki devoted to the science of magic. He is also a recent keynote speaker for the American Psychological Association . More information is available at www.AnthonyBarnhart.com
About Dr. Barnhart: Anthony Barnhart an Associate Professor of Psychological Science at Carthage College. He received his Ph.D. in Cognitive Science from Arizona State University, where he began his graduate career with the intention of being a language researcher. To this end, he has published foundational research examining the processes underlying handwritten word perception. However, Tony is also a part-time professional magician with over 30 years of performing experience. In recent years, psychological science has taken an active interest in the methods of magicians as an avenue for understanding and studying the mind. Tony’s current research borrows hypotheses and techniques from magic to study attention and perception in the laboratory. He has authored both empirical and theoretical works on the interface of science and magic, and he regularly teaches a college course devoted to the cognitive science of magic. A leader in this burgeoning field, he was a founding member of the Science of Magic Association and frequently appears in national and international media. Most recently, his work was featured on an episode of the CBC’s The Nature of Things with David Suzuki devoted to the science of magic. He is also a recent keynote speaker for the American Psychological Association . More information is available at www.AnthonyBarnhart.com
