# The Gresham Festival of Musical Ideas

- Institution: Gresham College
- Taught by: Professor Milton Mermikides, Professor Morten L. Kringelbach, Professor Robin May, Professor Sarah Hart, Professor Chris Lintott
- Year: 2025
- Level: For everyone
- Language: English
- Subjects: Mathematics, Biology, Medicine and health, Astronomy and space, Society and politics, History, Philosophy, Music
- Source: [Gresham College](https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/series/musical-ideas-2025)
- Licence: [Educational use (Gresham College's terms)](https://www.gresham.ac.uk/terms-and-conditions)
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (sources give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the source's own words)

Why does a rhythm make us tap our feet—or even get up and dance? In conversation with Professor of Music Milton Mermikides, neuroscientist Professor Morten Kringelbach reveals how the brain finds pleasure, meaning, and movement in music. Drawing on extensive brain imaging, analysis and realworld studies, the talk explores how music and dance engage our brain’s predictive systems—where just the right balance of familiarity and surprise creates joy.

## Lectures

1. [Climbing Mount Groove: Music and Dance in the Brain](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/series-musical-ideas-2025/6d34b0d94dc5) (Audio)
2. [The Evolution of Music](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/series-musical-ideas-2025/f0f6bb34b96c) (Audio)
3. [The Maths of Music (and the Music of Maths)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/series-musical-ideas-2025/65faf8b6d19d) (Audio)
4. [Remixing the Music of the Spheres](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/series-musical-ideas-2025/a1ff27cd03ca) (Audio)
5. [The Virtues of Music](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/series-musical-ideas-2025/5d9566aac71b) (Audio)