Music On The Brain: The Dance Before The Embrace

Music on the Brain What do fighting fish, jazz improvisation, and Valentine’s Day have in common? Join us for a special Valentine’s-themed installment of Music on the Brain, where we bring together live jazz and neuroscience to explore how brains communicate—through aggression, courtship, and cooperation. Research scientist Zach Mayer (Bendesky Lab, Zuckerman Institute) studies betta fish, whose dramatic fighting displays and unconventional mating rituals offer a powerful window into fundamental emotions like aggression and fear. Alongside saxophonist Patience Higgins, the conversation will draw striking parallels between genetic tools that “turn the dial” on behavior, the signaling dances betta fish perform when fighting and courting, and the way jazz musicians communicate, negotiate, and improvise within musical constraints. Harlem Jazz Tour Guide Amanda Humes hosts an evening of live music and conversation, exploring the fascinating parallels between neuroscience and jazz improvisation. Music on the Brain is a collaboration between the National Jazz Museum in Harlem and Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute. Please note that tickets will be held until 10 minutes before the program begins, after which any unclaimed seats may be released to attendees without tickets, subject to room capacity. More Info below.