A narrative review for clinical applications of magic

Abstract

Magic is an art form that has been traced back 1000 years ago. Previous studies have been conducted to investigate the positive effects magic could bring on human beings. Herein, we organize studies on the positive effects and the use of magic tricks in aspects of performing, witnessing, discovering the secrets of magic, and finally, in educational settings. We discovered that magic not only benefits well-being with physical and mental improvement but also works well as a therapeutic use for hospitals, pediatric settings, and rehabilitation for patients with functional loss. With research on the human mind developing rapidly, magic could also be a great study tool for exploring human cognition and perception. We conclude that magic has already brought about a great number of promising effects in various settings. Therefore, in this manuscript, we discuss how performing and perceiving magic tricks could bring positive effects on researchers and human beings.

Keywords

• magic
• performing magic trick
• watching magic performance