Richard Davidson, an affective neuroscience leader, has scheduled a presentation titled “Change Your Brain by Transforming Your Mind” for the seventh annual Stephen E. Straus Distinguished Lecture in the Science of Complementary Therapies.
Davidson has conducted considerable research about emotion and the brain. His presentation includes new research about transforming the mind with meditation, which then serves to change the brain to benefit physical health, mental health and overall wellbeing.
Western neuroscience has various forms of meditation for mental training. This serves to balance attention and emotions. Each kind of meditation shows different effects for neural and behavioral habits. Davidson will also discuss the biological changes that can help to regulate physical illness and health.
Davidson’s presentation features data from studies that involve long-term users of meditation as well as people who with shorter amounts of meditation training. The data emphasize the longitudinal studies over a period of time.
Davidson has accomplished numerous achievements. He is a William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, the founder of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the director of the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior. TIME has included him among the 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2006.
In addition, Davidson has presented at international events, collaborated with the Dalai Lama, and published 14 books and over 300 articles and 80 reviews. He has also written a New York Times bestseller, “The Emotional Life of Your Brain.”
