Genes do not Necessarily Determine Behavior

In this quote from Richie Davidson, we learn that genes do not necessarily determine behavior. They are like a switch that can be turned on and off, depending on causes and conditions in our lives. “These were the first hints that our emotional and psychological fate does not lie solely within the twists of the […]

Your Secondary Brain

Scientists have known for a long time that your secondary brain is in your gut. This is the origin of the “gut feeling” that we sometimes get when we are about to do something or make an important decision. “The neurons in the gut are so innumerable that many scientists are now calling the totality […]

Is Your Teacher Stressed Out?

Is your teacher stressed out? A new study shows that mindfulness meditation training can help reduce teacher stress and burnout. The study was done at the University of Wisconsin-Madison by Lisa Flock in the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds (CIHM) at UW-Madison’s Waisman Center. CIHM and the Waisman Center are run by Dr. Richie Davidson […]

Mindfulness Eases Inflammation And Promtes Well-Being

In previous posts, we have reported on the scientific studies from the University of Wisconsin. Many of these studies were performed under the guidance of Dr. Richie Davidson. He is the director of the Laboratory for Affective Neuroscience, Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging & Behavior, and Center for Investigating Healthy Minds at the University. His research focuses on affective […]