“Why did we develop the ability to make and appreciate music?” This will be one of the questions a University Centre Shrewsbury (UCS) academic will explore during a free lecture this month.

Dr Margaret Cousins will present the lecture on “The Singing Ape: the Evolution of the Musical Brain” on Wednesday 15 June 2016.

People are invited to find out more about the evolution and neuropsychology of music with Dr Cousins at Guildhall, UCS’ learning and research base in Frankwell Quay, from 7pm to 8.30pm.

Dr Cousins said:

“Join us to look at questions such as ‘Is musical ability innate or learned?’, ‘What is its relationship with other forms of human communication?’ and ‘What function does music serve?’”

Dr Margaret Cousins lectures at UCS and the University of Chester where she is Deputy Head of the Psychology Department.

Her core teaching areas are in cognitive psychology and research methods, and her specialist area is neurodevelopmental disorders.

To book places for the lecture email communications@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk or call 01743 297185.

Alternatively, people can visit the information point at Guildhall (SY3 8HQ) which is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4pm on Fridays, or Rowley’s House at Barker Street (SY1 1QH) on Wednesdays between 11am and 2pm.

For further details on UCS events go to: www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk/public-events.