About Brainy Bar
Our long-running event series in partnership with the Human Understanding Lab is where marketing meets science. Hosted by Brainy Bar founder and leading industry voice, Dr Cristina de Balanzo, each instalment brings together the best and the brightest from the fields of neuroscience, behavioural science, academia, marketing, and strategy to unpick a topic that’s been keeping the advertising world awake at night.
Past events have seen us dispel myths about the gendered brain, journey to the centre of attention, and debate the science behind art and emotion. Now in its 10th year, Brainy Bar is back and bigger than ever – find out more below.
Join us for the 10th Anniversary of Brainy Bar
The Science of Storytelling: Unlocking the Power of Narrative
We know that our brains are wired to stories from an evolutionary perspective, but for stories to be effective, we require certain conditions. The marketing world argues that stories help us to build our brands and drive emotional engagement, as well as enabling us to crack the memorability of our communications. However, can we only succeed by applying rules, linearity, and rigid structures—or can fragmented, unstructured communications also grab and hold our attention?
On the 9th of July 2025 at 6pm at The Regent Street Cinema, Dr Cristina de Balanzo will be joined by Paul Feldwick, Dr Guido Orgs and others to explore the fascinating intersection between neuroscience, storytelling, and marketing – revealing how stories can engage, influence, and inspire audiences. We will learn about the scientific principles behind effective storytelling and how to apply them within your brand touchpoints. More speakers will be added to our line-up in the coming weeks.
DR CRISTINA DE BALANZO
Host – Director, Walnut & Human Understanding Lab
DR PAUL FELDWICK
Author & Lecturer
DR GUIDO ORGS
Assoc. Professor – Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience
Brainy Bar Archive
Nature vs Nurture: Not That Simple
In 2022, we turned the lens of neuroscience onto the age-old debate about gender differences. Led by Professor Gina Rippon, we challenged traditional views of how boys, girls, men, and women are intrinsically different.
The Science of Attention
In 2023, we tackled the ever-relevant question of attention in today’s media landscape. What does attention really mean, and how can we measure it effectively?
The Science of emotion
Emotions are at the core of memory, decision-making, and how we navigate the world. In this session, we explored the science of emotion and its crucial role in both the strategy and creative processes.