Description
What does it mean to sense something that isn’t there? Join psychologist and author, Ben Alderson-Day, for a fascinating exploration of the unseen – from voices heard by people with psychosis, to the invisible companions of children, and the deeply felt presences reported in spiritual or paranormal experiences.
Drawing on his acclaimed book Presence, Alderson-Day blends cutting-edge neuroscience with compelling case studies to examine how the brain constructs our sense of reality.
This thought-provoking event asks where perception ends and imagination begins, and what these blurred boundaries reveal about the mysteries of the human mind.
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About the Author
Dr. Ben Alderson-Day
Dr. Ben Alderson-Day is an Associate Professor in Psychology at Durham University and a Fellow of the Institute for Medical Humanities and the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing. His interdisciplinary research focuses on atypical cognition and mental health, integrating cognitive neuroscience, psychiatry, philosophy, and child development. He is particularly known for his work on auditory verbal hallucinations, inner speech, and the phenomenon of “felt presence”—the eerie sensation that someone is nearby when alone. Dr. Alderson-Day’s work continues to bridge the gap between scientific research and lived experience, offering new perspectives on human cognition and mental health.
About the Chair
Peg Alexander
Peg Alexander is a Leeds based award winning broadcaster, presenter, and journalist across TV, radio, podcasts and events. A colourful, warm, optimistic northerner, she’s all about the world we live in and life in general – people, politics, the planet, and cake. She‘s a regular on shows including Jeremy Vine on 5 and previously Steph’s Packed Lunch, and is often heard on national radio putting her twopenneth in.
Broadcasting is her 2nd career. Before moving into the media she was a charity CEO and was senior in public policy. She was also founding Director of Bradford’s UNESCO status as the world’s first City of Film. She now combines both careers.
She’s written 2 books – one on how to keep weight off long term and is currently finishing a travel-inspired memoir.
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