Susana Martinez-Conde
Susana Martinez-Conde is a Spanish-American neuroscientist renowned for her research on visual perception, illusions, and eye movements. She is a professor at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, where she directs the Laboratory of Integrative Neuroscience. Her work explores how the brain constructs visual experiences, focusing on phenomena like microsaccades and perceptual illusions. Martinez-Conde co-authored Sleights of Mind and Champions of Illusion, blending neuroscience with the art of magic to reveal cognitive mechanisms behind deception. She also founded the Best Illusion of the Year Contest and contributes to Scientific American. Her innovative research bridges science and public engagement, making complex concepts accessible and intriguing.
In 'Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals About Our Everyday Deceptions,' authored by Stephen L. Macknik, we delve into the fascinating intersection of magic tricks and neuroscience. This illuminating book explores how magicians exploit the brain's cognitive processes to deceive our perceptions, offering insights into how our minds interpret reality. Through engaging stories and experiments, Macknik and his co-authors unravel the mysteries of attention, memory, and perception. Readers will be captivated by the revelations about how easily our senses can be manipulated and how understanding these illusions can shed light on everyday deceptions. 'Sleights of Mind' is a thought-provoking journey that bridges the gap between magic and science.