Music of Light and Colour - Milton Mermikides

Music of Light and Colour - Milton Mermikides

by Milton Mermikides

Life & Natural Systems Psychology JMPsychologyJMRCognition and cognitive psychology
🎙 Milton Mermikides 👥 450K 📅 January 20, 2026 ⏱ 48 min 👁 22K 📄 lecture 🧭 2026-08-06
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

synesthesiachromesthesiacrossmodal correspondenceBouba-Kikivisual music

Summary

In this Gresham College lecture, Milton Mermikides explores the deep connections between sound and vision, drawing on philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and music history. He begins with Plato’s cave allegory to frame the limitations of our senses, then introduces the Bouba-Kiki effect as evidence of sound symbolism. He demonstrates how waveforms can be visualized and how cymatics reveal physical links between sound and shape. The lecture discusses crossmodal correspondences, such as the association of pitch with height, brightness, and size, and how these are reflected in language and music. Mermikides explains the difference between metaphor and synesthesia, focusing on chromesthesia (sound-to-color) and its neural basis. He highlights famous synesthetes like Scriabin, Messiaen, and Duke Ellington, and discusses how composers have used color associations in their work. The lecture also covers Newton’s color-music analogies, the idea that rhythm is slow pitch, and the work of artists like Kandinsky and Klee in visual music. It concludes with technological attempts to translate images into sound and vice versa, and Scriabin’s vision of a multimedia synthesis.

171 words

Critical Evaluation

The lecture provides a comprehensive and engaging overview of the intersections between music and visual perception. Mermikides effectively combines historical anecdotes, scientific findings, and musical examples to illustrate the concepts. The discussion of crossmodal correspondences is well-supported by references to psychological studies, such as the Bouba-Kiki effect, and the neurological basis of synesthesia is explained clearly. The inclusion of specific composers and artists, such as Scriabin, Messiaen, and Kandinsky, adds depth and demonstrates the practical applications of these ideas. However, the lecture is primarily a synthesis of existing knowledge rather than presenting new research. Some claims, such as the universality of certain crossmodal associations, could benefit from more critical examination. The sources cited are not explicitly referenced during the lecture, but the content aligns with established scientific literature. The lecture’s strength lies in its ability to make complex interdisciplinary topics accessible to a general audience without oversimplifying. The use of live demonstrations and musical examples enhances the presentation. Overall, the lecture is scientifically sound and intellectually stimulating, though it does not delve deeply into methodological details or potential controversies. The title accurately reflects the content, and the lecture successfully bridges art and science.

193 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which explores the connections between music and color/vision.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The lecture is delivered by a Gresham College professor, Milton Mermikides, and is based on established scientific concepts such as crossmodal correspondences, synesthesia, and the Bouba-Kiki effect. It references historical figures and composers, and includes neuroscientific explanations. The content is well-structured and appears reliable, though it is a public lecture and not peer-reviewed.

Chapters

Cited Sources

  • Gresham College Lecture Page — Official page for this lecture, likely containing further details and references.
  • Q&A Session — Follow-up Q&A session for this lecture.
  • Gresham College Website — Institution hosting the lecture.
  • Gresham College Bluesky — Social media profile for updates and additional content.

Concurring Sources

Contribution & Novelties

The lecture offers a novel synthesis of crossmodal perception, synesthesia, and visual music, connecting scientific research with artistic practice. It provides a broad overview that is both educational and inspiring, highlighting the work of key figures and the underlying neural mechanisms.

Pour aller plus loin :

101 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in information quantity, quality, and reliability, with a moderate technical level. This indicates a well-balanced lecture that is informative and credible, but not overly technical, making it accessible to a broad audience.

Reliability 8/10