Muscle reading

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For the study technique, see muscle reading (study technique).

Muscle reading is a technique used by mentalists to "read" the responses of their audience by carefully observing their reactions. This is sometimes done through physical contact, for example by holding the audience member's wrist. The theory behind the technique is that the unconscious mind will reveal what the subject is thinking about through involuntary physical reactions, and by feeling/observing and interpereting those responses correctly, the mentalist can get a clear glimpse into what the subject is thinking. Supposedly, by coming into physical contact with the subject, a mentalist can gain a better link with the person's mind, usually by allowing him to read more subtle reactions in the subject's motor functions, such as muscle control and heart rate. Because it relies so heavily on the subject's subconscious reactions to their environment and situation, this technique is a common one used when performing tricks dealing with locating objects, and as such, can be done 'clean' by the magician skilled in reading body language. It's also reportedly a method (without the mysticism) used by champion poker players to better hide their reactions to different hands, as well as to read the other players for potential bluffs and/or better hands.

It is also known as hellstromism, cumberlandism, and contact mind reading.