Climbing Mount Groove: Music and Dance in the Brain

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. From funk to fugues, bossa to the Beatles – the talk will offer insights into why groove feels so good, and how rhythm links brain, body and culture.