• Amodal Volume Completion and the Thin Building Illusion 

      Ekroll, Vebjørn; Mertens, Kathleen; Johan, Wagemans (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2018)
      We report results from an experiment showing that a tall pillar with a triangular base evokes radically different three-dimensional (3D) percepts depending on the vantage point from which it is observed. The base of the ...
    • Intuitive feelings of warmth and confidence in insight and noninsight problem solving of magic tricks 

      Hedne, Mikael Ringstad; Norman, Elisabeth; Metcalfe, Janet (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2016-08-31)
      The focus of the current study is on intuitive feelings of insight during problem solving and the extent to which such feelings are predictive of successful problem solving. We report the results from an experiment (N = ...
    • Never Repeat the Same Trick Twice – Unless it is Cognitively Impenetrable 

      Ekroll, Vebjørn; De Bruyckere, Evy; Vanwezemael, Lotte; Wagemans, Johan (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2018)
      In their quest for creating magical experiences, magicians rely on a host of psychological factors. Here, we compare tricks based on attentional misdirection with tricks based on amodal completion. Based on the notion that ...
    • A Perceptual Illusion of Empty Space Can Create a Perceptual Illusion of Levitation 

      Øhrn, Heidi; Svalebjørg, Mats; Andersen, Steffen; Ring, Anna Edit; Ekroll, Vebjørn (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2019-12-30)
      A recent analysis of magic tricks suggests the existence of a perceptual illusion where the space hidden behind an occluding object is experienced as empty in a strangely compelling way. Here, we show that this illusion ...