Thursday, January 27, 2011

Brain Science Podcast - Magic and the Brain (BSP 72)


It's nice to have Dr. Ginger Campbell and the Brain Science Podcast back online, even if these are now only occasional podcasts. In this new episode she talks with neuroscientists Dr. Stephen Macknik and Dr. Susana Martinez-Conde about their new book, Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals about Our Everyday Deceptions. This appears to be the the first book to explore the neuroscience of magic - they will also be in Tucson speaking about the book tonight at 5 pm in UA Science Building. (Damn, wish I could be there.)

Magic and the Brain (BSP 72)


Dr. Susana Martinez-Conde

Neuroscientists Dr. Stephen Macknik and Dr. Susana Martinez-Conde have an unusual hobby: Magic! Actually, it is more than a hobby since for the last several years they have been working with leading magicians from around the world to create a new field: the neuroscience of magic. In Episode 72 of the Brain Science Podcast I talked with them about their new book Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals about Our Everyday Deceptions, which is the first book to explore the neuroscience of magic.

With the help of their co-author Sandra Blakeslee, Macknik and Martinez-Conde provide an excellent overview of this new and exciting field. Their book also provides an excellent review of many of the principles that I have introduced in the last 4 years.

listen-to-audio Listen to Episode 72 (Right Click to download)

Episode Transcript (Download PDF)

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Dr. Stephen Macknik

Links and References

Scientists mentioned during the podcast

Magicians mentioned during the interview