Discover how your brain transforms vibrations into the music you hear and feel. Prof Lauren Stewart, a leading psychologist specializing in music and the brain, explores the remarkable neural mechanisms behind our emotional connection to sound.
The workshop reveals how your brain constantly predicts what comes next in a melody - and how music exploits those expectations to create surprise, tension and pleasure. You'll learn how listening activates your motor networks, triggers vivid mental imagery and produces physical responses like shivers. The session also examines how learning an instrument can actually rewire your brain over time, reshaping neural pathways through practice and engagement.
Prof Stewart brings extensive research and public engagement experience, including projects at major institutions like the Science Museum and the BBC. Her current work explores how culturally rooted musical practices can support mental health during pregnancy.
Doors open at 7pm, with the talk beginning at 7:30pm - arrive early for a comfortable seat.
