They looked, but did not see, thanks to the magician’s misdirection. Even if participants looked directly at the secret move, they did not notice it if their attention was directed elsewhere. One study tracked participants’ eye movements while showing them a vanishing cigarette trick. The participants saw something amazing - something that never actually happened.Īnother example is misdirection, where the magician hides the secret by manipulating what the audience perceives or thinks. Two thirds of the participants reported seeing the ball vanish in mid-air, even though it never left his hand. On the third throw, however, he only pretended to throw it. For example, in one study, a magician threw a ball into the air a few times.
Some of these principles, such as illusions and misdirection, have recently lead to interesting discoveries. Studying magic could reveal the mechanisms of the mind that enable these principles, to uncover the why rather than just the how. But magicians rarely know why these principles work. Skilled magicians can manipulate memories, control attention, and influence choices. For now, remember your card - we’ll return to it later.įor thousands of years, magicians have amazed audiences by developing and applying intuitions about the mind. Got one in mind?Īlthough it may have felt like a free choice, think again: Most people choose one of only four cards, out of a deck of 52.
