Mesmerized: An Immersive Experiment in Science & Magic

The field of experimental psychology arose during a time steeped in wonder and mystery. Spiritualism gained widespread influence, proposing that death was not an end but a transition. Mesmerists claimed to heal all ailments through the laying-on of hands. Early psychologists did not merely react to these remarkable phenomena — they incorporated them into their investigations of the human mind.

In this performance, cognitive scientist and magic scholar Anthony Barnhart, associate professor of psychological science at Carthage College, alongside occult aficionado and mind reader Joe Diamond, explores these mid-19th-century curiosities through interactive experiments, psychological illusions, and compelling storytelling.

This is part 1 of Cognitive Science's Mesmerized series. Part 2: The Eyes Have It: Magical Manipulation of Eye Movements & Awareness is on Nov. 13, 4:30 p.m.

Hosted by the Cognitive Science Program and the School of Arts & Sciences.