Magic Mind - A lecture by Professor Nicola Clayton
An exclusive event for RSB members exploring animal cognition and illusions
Details
When? Thursday 28 May 2026, 16:00 to 17:00
Members Only This is a members-only event
Where? Online (Zoom)
CPD Approved This event is approved for CPD
Magic Mind: a webinar exploring animal cognition and illusions
Talk outline
Cognitive illusions reveal a number of fascinating features about the psychology and biology of the mind; not just perception but also mental time travel, the ability to remember the past and anticipate the future. Magic effects also illuminate some important things about Theory of Mind, the ability to assess the thoughts of others, both on the part of the audience and on the part of the magician.
In this talk, Professor Clayton will evaluate the extent to which corvids, known for their impressive cognitive abilities, exploit such principles in their natural caching behaviour i.e., their ability to hide food from the prying eyes of their competitors and protect their caches from being pilfered. Nicola will also investigate whether and to what extent these birds are fooled by human magic effects.
In this talk, Professor Clayton will evaluate the extent to which corvids, known for their impressive cognitive abilities, exploit such principles in their natural caching behaviour i.e., their ability to hide food from the prying eyes of their competitors and protect their caches from being pilfered. Nicola will also investigate whether and to what extent these birds are fooled by human magic effects.
Finally, she will discuss what this approach might reveal about the intersection between the ability to manually produce an action, and the ability to anticipate the actions of others: for sleight of hand magic capitalises on the observer's predictions of specific manual movements, particularly those of the hands.
About our speaker
Professor Nicola Clayton FRS is the Professor of Comparative Cognition in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge, UK a Fellow of Clare college, Cambridge, and a Fellow of the Royal Society. She is Founding Director of the Cambridge Centre for the Integration of Science, Technology and Culture, and holds Visiting Professorships at the Nanging University's Institute of Technology and Beijing University of Language and Culture, China and an Honorary Professorship at Hangzhou Diangi University, China and Beijing Minzu University, China. She was also Scientist-in-Residence and Associate Artist at Rambert (formerly Ballet Rambert), a position she held from 2011 until Mark Baldwin's retirement as Artistic Director in 2022.
She is extremely interested in science-arts collaborations, integrating science with dance and the performing arts including magic. She has two long standing science arts collaborations with Choreographer-in-Residence Mark Baldwin OBE and Artist-in-Residence Clive Wilkins MMC.
Nicky is particularly interested in the processes of thinking with and without words, and comparisons between the cognitive abilities of corvids (members of the crow family), cephalopods (octopus, cuttlefish and squid) and humans, both in adults and also in young children before their linguistic abilities are fully developed.
Chair
This webinar will be chaired by Professor Sir Ian Boyd FRSE FRS FRSB, President of the RSB Council.
Who should attend?
This talk would be of interest to scientists, students, and those interested in cognition and theory of mind.
Cost and booking
This event is free to attend and is open exclusively to RSB members, including those with paid membership applications awaiting election. If your application is still being processed and you would like to attend, please get in touch and we will add you to the guest list.
Special requirements
If you have accessibility requirements, please let us know during your booking using the additional information options, and we will do what we can to accommodate your needs.
Continuing Professional Development
This event is approved by the Royal Society of Biology for the purposes of CPD and can be counted as 3 CPD points.
Contact
For event, booking and website queries, please contact Lucy Eckersley at events@rsb.org.uk or on 020 3925 3445.Code of Conduct
By its Royal Charter, the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) has the powers to promote, establish and support standards of professional skill and conduct. The RSB is committed to ensuring equal opportunities in the life sciences, and supports diversity throughout the pipeline. We proactively promote a culture of inclusivity within our discipline and the broader STEM community. It is vital at any RSB event or meeting, that everyone attending is free from any form of harassment or discrimination, feels comfortable and safe, and has the opportunity for an enjoyable experience.