People often harbour misconceptions as to the nature of psychology. Tricks of the Psych Trade, an evening exploring the how, what and why of psychology, aims to dispel these myths and communicate three major methods used by experimental psychologists: Scientific experiments, brain imaging techniques and individual testimonies.

In an event focused very much on audience participation and sensory experience, the evening begins with an interactive session, led by Dr Emma Lawrence, a Lecturer in Cognition and Neuroimaging at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London.

Dr Lawrence will introduce the methods psychologists commonly use to study empathy, engaging the audience by using a selection of stimuli taken from real psychological studies.

Responses will be anonymously recorded and throughout the session "real time" physiological responses of a collaborator will be monitored using state-of-the-art skin conductance technology, as used in lie-detector tests.

The audience will then be able to experience a sonic-art installation comprising emotive sounds from nature and the human voice by artist Julie Freeman, whose work has attracted wide ranging media interest, from the BBC's Tomorrow's World through to Radio 4's Woman's Hour.

An exhibition of artwork by York artist Peter Myers, spanning drawings, sculpture and animation, completes the evening.

Peter has lived, travelled and exhibited worldwide, communicating the nature of autistic spectrum disorders through his work.

Peter was formally diagnosed as having Asperger's Syndrome in 1996, a developmental disorder thought to be of biological origin, which involves a triad of social differences: Social communication; social imagination; and social interaction.

The precision and attention to detail Peter achieves in his work is breathtaking, to the extent that audiences often assume he produces artwork using a computer, despite Peter describing himself as computer illiterate.

Peter explains: "For myself, the desire to create is intrinsic to my nature; it is what I do, part of who and what I am, be it drawing, making things – anything from DIY to sculptures, – writing or photography.

"I do not draw from memory as for me this is indistinct, constantly shifting, unstable," he continues.

"Often when I draw I do not know what it is that I shall create, I have only a vague idea of what I want to draw. I sort of draw 'blind', sensing and feeling my way along until the drawing, in a way, finishes itself. So I tend to not draw what I see, but see what I draw.

"I produce art 'the old-fashioned way', that of hand, eye and brain. This is all I require."

Suitable for adults, Tricks of the Psych Trade is free to attend yet pre-registration is required.

To reserve your place telephone Science City York on 01904 554533 or email science.city@york.gov.uk