The Brain That Fools Itself: Neuroscience & Magic at CaixaForum

How does illusionism work, and why do our minds succumb to perceptual tricks? Neuroscience and the art of magic unite to reveal the cognitive secrets of the human brain. 🧠✨

This lecture is part of the series "The Brain Through the Senses" at CaixaForum Palma, delivered by Dr. Jordi Camí.

🧠 The Brain That Fools Itself

📅 Wednesday, October 28, 2026

🕐 19:00

📍 CaixaForum Palma, Palma de Mallorca

🎟️ 6 €

📖 The Science Behind Illusionism

How do magicians accomplish effects that appear completely impossible? Illusionism is an ancient craft relying on secret techniques hidden from spectators, yet it also constitutes an intriguing area of research for modern neuroscience. Practitioners of this art cleverly exploit cognitive strategies and the specific ways our brain handles incoming information.

Over centuries, illusionists have refined methods that expose the natural flaws in our perceptual systems. Cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and decision-making are selective, leaving them open to interference. Using real-world and everyday examples, the speaker explores how the brain prioritizes certain signals while filtering out others, making it wonderfully prone to deception.

🔬 Jordi Camí and the Lecture Series

The session is led by Jordi Camí, Doctor of Medicine, specialist in Clinical Pharmacology, Professor Emeritus at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, and Vice President of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation.

ℹ️ Good to know: Activity suitable for all audiences.

✨ A fascinating opportunity to understand the mysteries of human perception and how the mind gets tricked.