Key words: illusion, prestidigitation, suggestion, dissociation
Illusionism has been used for centuries as an artistic instrument according to laws of great psychological interest. Primarily, magic tricks work because cognitive and emotional aspects are susceptible to manipulation. In fact, reality is not experienced by individuals as such, but is the result of the construction actively conducted by the brain. The art of magic is based on the action of the intrinsic properties of the mind and that of magicians – like crooks and cheaters – they are in fact experts in cognitive science that are able to cleverly manipulate the perception of reality.
Prestidigitation originated as a secret discipline requiring complex learning so much so that even today, despite recent vulgarization through the internet, mastering this art is not so much as knowing the tricks but the perseverance in their studies, curiosity in experimentation of mind and the particular way of thought. Illusion has its own laws regarding function it is exceptional and unique, depending on the background of the individual which in part is shared by other people. Towards the end of the nineteenth century many scholars were occupied in scientific studies of the psychological aspects of prestidigitation, in various cases involving famous magicians of that time. In the last decade neurosciences have been interested in studying the mental mechanisms involved in magic with the aim of identifying unknown psychological mechanisms thanks to spontaneous experiments offered by magic and illusionism. This text illustrates the basic elements of psychology that is linked with illusionism so as to try and understand the potential contribution it can offer to neuroscience. The theme of illusion is also analyzed in the evolution of the epistemological paradigm in which includes the relationship between therapist and patient.