You know you're being fooled, yet you watch like a hawk. You will figure it out, this magic trick, if it's the last thing you do. But, over and over again, the assistant gets sawed in half, the rabbit is pulled out of the hat, and Uncle Charlie pulls the quarter from behind your ear.
Have you ever wondered about magician's secrets? The brain, it seems, continues seeing the reality of the situation it has already assessed. Reality and our perception of it are not always aligned, in fact are "off" by fragments of time. According to a recent New York Times article, our perceptions lag behind reality by a split second and it is that delay that magicians utilize for their trickery.
Scientists are researching this phenomenon to study human behavior in order to better understand the connection between reality and perception. To read more about these fascinating ideas, click here: The Science of Illusion
Have a magical day!
My daughter works sometimes as a magician's assistant to escape artist Curtis Lovell. She said even she gets amazed at the tricks, and wonders how Curtis does it, even though she knows! It's a wonderful thing, slight of hand, tricking the eye. Magic.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun your daughter must have!
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