The Psychology of Illusion: A Magician Reveals His Secrets

Magic isn’t just about tricking the eyes - it’s about understanding the mind.

Join Sanjeev Vinodh, professional magician and cognitive scientist, for an interactive lecture that pulls back the curtain on how illusions really work.

Sanjeev will break down the techniques behind his magic, revealing how language, movement, and technology are carefully engineered to guide attention, shape perception, and create moments that feel impossible. Blending live demonstrations with insights from cognitive science, he’ll show how magic exploits the same mental shortcuts we rely on every day.

Sanjeev was the youngest magician to fool Penn & Teller on Fool Us, has performed worldwide alongside legends like David Copperfield, and holds a background in cognitive science from UC Berkeley, where he studied how language can influence choice and memory.

Expect participation, surprises, and - yes - plenty of magic.