Charles Spence is Professor of Experimental Psychology at Oxford University and head of the Crossmodal Research Laboratory. He is interested in how people perceive the world around them. In particular, how our brains manage to process the information from each of our different senses (such as smell, taste, sight, hearing, and touch) to form the extraordinarily rich multisensory experiences that fill our daily lives. He is the author of numerous books, has published over 500 articles and been given many awards for his work. In his new book, Sensehacking, he poses a series of fascinating questions: How can the furniture in your home affect your well-being? What colour clothing will help you play sport better? And what simple trick will calm you after a tense day at work? Charles shows how our senses change how we think and feel, and how by ‘hacking’ them we can reduce stress, become more productive and be happier. We like to think of ourselves as rational beings, and yet it’s the scent of expensive face cream that removes wrinkles (temporarily) and the noise of the crowd really does affect the referee’s decision. Sensehacking explores how the senses are stimulated in nature, at home, in the workplace and at play. Using cutting-edge science, Spence shows how the senses interact and affect our minds and bodies. Charles will be in conversation with festival director Sam Knights.
