Animal perception of magic
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Researchers study the reactions of animals observing humans performing magic tricks in order to better understand animal cognition. Using these studies, evolutionary psychologists aim to gain insights into the evolution of perception and attention by comparing responses of different species, including humans.
Magic is about violating expectations.[1] It capitalises on specific blind spots in attention and perception. While scientific interest in humans' perception of magic dates back to the late 19th century, when in 1896 Alfred Binet presented his work, this faded quickly, and has only recently, in the early 21st century, been revived.[2][3] Some researchers have coined terms such as neuromagic or magicology for the study of magic.[4][5] Other scientists are critical of the new field, saying it is not worthy to stand as a field of its own.[3] Scientists aim to get insight into how the human mind operates.[6]
Some animal species are capable of misdirection, an important skill magicians possess to trick humans. For example, chimpanzees have been observed to deliberately look away from an object they desire as to avoid it being noticed by a competitor.[7] Jays and other corvids pretend to store food in various places, trying to obscure the cache's true location from observers. This suggests that at least some species are susceptible to magic.[8][9]