Re: Summer reading list (2012) - Mind Reading

[Bruce Barnett <grymoire () gmail com>]

On Tue, Jun 19, 2012 at 5:12 AM, David3 <netevil () hackers it> wrote:

>  Hi guys,
> I know this could be a bit out of topic, but I would ask you anyway..
>
> Last night I have been really amazed watching the magician Dynamo reading
> minds of
> people instantly, and I am still wondering and searching if this is a
> illusionist trick
> or if there is a real scientific way to do it: this would be really
> interesting, and if true I should add
> some summer reading also on this matter.

This is one of my areas of expertise.
While there are scientific  "real" methods,  more practical methods exist
which work 100%. A good performer cannot rely on random chance.

> For example you ask a person to think a number and then, watching body and
> eyes moving
> you are able to reveal what is he thinking?

Some questions involve 3D/spacial concentration, while others involve
analytical concentration. This can involve left brain/right brain
involvement, which can be revealed by eye movements. But the right/left
brain concept is not 100% consistent. Lefties may have the sides inverted,
while a small percentage deviate from the norm as well. People who have had
strokes re-learn how to use their brain, and some people were forced to
switch their favorite hand, because being a lefty is "evil." See
http://wordinfo.info/unit/3777 So it can be done, but not reliably.


> Could be a pure trick?
Perhaps he was lucky. :-)

how much is it possible?
>

A lot.

> This happened also to me once. A person wanted to meet me for a job
> interview, and in the end asked me a couple of personal things but said
> "Don't tell me, just think about the answers" and then he revealed me what
> were my answers: really scary.

Read up on the Barnum effect, and the concept of cold reading.

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