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 working across television, radio, podcasts and live events. A former politician, public policy professional and charity CEO, she is an expert in people-powered change and currently leads a non-profit network supporting people in debt. Her first book, a travel-inspired memoir, is forthcoming.
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