Why does music force our bodies to move and our brains to feel joy?
In short: Neuroscientist Morten Kringelbach and musician Milton Mermikides examine the biological roots of rhythm. This lecture explains how our brains process music to find pleasure, connecting the mechanics of sound to our physical urge to dance through the lens of predictive systems.
The discussion highlights how the brain balances familiarity and surprise to generate enjoyment. By analyzing diverse genres ranging from funk to classical fugues, the presenters demonstrate how rhythm acts as a bridge between neurological processes, physical movement, and cultural expression.
Morten Kringelbach leads the Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing at the University of Oxford and co-founded the Center for Music in the Brain at Aarhus University. Milton Mermikides serves as the Gresham Professor of Music. Their collaboration, recorded on June 29, 2025, integrates brain imaging data with musical analysis to decode why certain patterns feel satisfying.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Climbing Mount Groove: Music and Dance in the Brain - Milton Mermikides and Morten Kringelbach
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