Tuesday 11th May 2010: Music cognition

All human cultures seem to make music - today and through history. But why they do so, why music can excite deep passions, and how we make sense of musical sound at all are questions that have, until recently, remained profoundly mysterious.

In Philip Ball's book The Music Instinct he aims to provide the first comprehensive, accessible survey of what is known - and what is still unknown - about how music works its magic, and why, as much as eating and sleeping, it seems indispensable to humanity. Even with what appear to be the simplest of tunes, the brain is performing some astonishing gymnastics: finding patterns and regularities, forming interpretations and expectations that create a sense of aesthetic pleasure. Philip will explore how the latest research in music psychology and brain science is piecing together the puzzle of how our minds understand and respond to music.

Philip Ball is a renowned science author who has published more than a dozen books, including "H2O - A biography of water". See his personal website for more information.

As is usual when we have a non-academic author, the Cafe will be followed by a book signing for anyone who wishes to buy new or have Philip sign previous purchases.

Come along and join us at 7pm in Blackwells Main Bookshop, Broad Street, Oxford.
No ticket, no booking, no scientific background required.