Brighton Festival aims as much to educate as entertain and there was certainly plenty to exercise the old grey matter when Guardian science blogger and neuroscientist Dean Burnett discussed his new book The Idiot Brain with comedian Robin Ince.

Ever wondered why people get travel sick, the purpose of even the most crazed conspiracy theory or why you can't say no to dessert even when your belly is full, then Burnett has the answers.

As you'd expect from any Brighton Festival audience, Saturday's crowd knew their stuff and gave as good as they got in the question and answer session touching on the impact of screen time on cognitive development and whether dolphins dream.

Many of those audience members probably left with a few less cerebral questions of their own at the end of the evening including how hard it is to find a working microphone, what was that overbearing music playing next door and at what temperature does a warm room become inhibitive to incisive thought.

These questions and more remained unanswered but an interesting night whet the appetite for the likeable Welsh professor's accompanying book.