5 December 2025

3:25 PM – 4:10 PM

Amphi Grand Kursaal

André Didierjean

André Didierjean is University Professor of Cognitive Psychology at the Université Louis et Marie Pasteur, Besançon, and a member of the Institut Universitaire de France. His work focuses on cognitive expertise. His experimental research aims to understand the cognitive changes that accompany the acquisition of expertise, in fields such as chess and sport. For several years now, he has been working in collaboration with Cyril Thomas on a particular field of expertise: prestidigitation (see the book “Les secrets des prestidigitateurs”, Odile Jacob, 2025). Another of his interests concerns the links between psychology and literature (see, for example, his book “La madeleine et le savant. Balade Proustienne du côté de la psychologie cognitive, Editions du Seuil, 2015).

How do magicians manipulate our minds?

Prodigious illusions, surprising card tricks, mentalism sessions… What can science teach us about magic tricks? Can we influence a person’s choice without their knowledge? Make them perceive what doesn’t exist? Alter their memories? Behind these feats of prestidigitation lies a fundamental lever: psychology. In this lecture, two researchers in cognitive psychology will explore, through a series of experimental studies, the flaws in our minds that make us vulnerable to illusions. In particular, they will explain how magicians hijack most of our mental shortcuts in order to amaze us.