Questions and answers — from “What’s for dinner?” to “What is the meaning of life?”— are at the heart of human experience. Dr. Michael Shadlen’s research on the brain suggests that questions and answers, like call and response, establish the structure of all thought and perception. We learn what to ask and when the world responds with an answer, it has meaning because it bears on the call.  Art, and jazz especially, celebrates this structure. During a performance, the musicians call and respond to each other with their instruments and voices, creating a musical journey for artist and listener alike. 

Dr. Michael Shadlen is a Professor of Neuroscience, Principal Investigator at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute, and Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Dr. Shadlen investigates the neural mechanisms that guide decision-making. His research explores aspects of higher brain function, such as reasoning, planning, and strategizing.

Join Steinway Artist, Guggenheim Fellow, and the Zuckerman Institute’s inaugural Jazz Artist-in-Residence, pianist Helen Sung, and neuroscientist and avid jazz guitarist Dr. Shadlen, as we explore the scientific research on human thought, how thinking takes time, and how it brings us together in community!

This event is designed for people with dementia and their care partners. Please register in advance through the Arts & Minds web page. 

Rhythm and Reason is a collaboration between Arts & Minds, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem and Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute.

Learn more and register