When neuroscientist and musician AZA Allsop discovered research by his Yale colleague Joy Hirsch about how group drumming and musical interaction can affect social behavior, he knew there was a collaboration in their future.
Five years later, their joint work has shown that music is a powerful social enhancer that directly impacts brain functioning.
"When I reached out to see if we could work together on a project focused on music, Joy was as excited as I was," said Allsop, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine who is also a jazz artist. "As we drafted our new research, I really relied on my background in music production, theory, and performance to help shape things."
Hirsch, also a neuroscientist, brought her own musical experience to the partnership. A veteran competitive ballroom dancer, she has won many accolades including national championship titles.
