Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation, by Davidson et al.

One of Davidson’s best-known messages is that meditation alters the brain. The observation is trivial, since any human activity whatsoever involves and affects the brain. It could be scientifically interesting to know what exactly appears to be altered. In 2003, Davidson and colleagues reported increases in left-sided anterior activation, a pattern associated with positive affect, as well as increases in antibody titers following influenza vaccination in meditators compared with a nonmeditators control group (Davidson et al. 2003).

While the results are far from surprising and don’t really require neuroscience, Davidson’s ultimate purpose is to demonstrate that meditation can be put to useful social and psychological uses, such as reducing stress for all or making life easier in maximum-security prisons.

Vidal, Fernando and Ortega, Francisco. Being Brains: Making the Cerebral Subject (Forms of Living)....

Center for Healthy Minds

What if our world were a kinder, wiser, more compassionate place? A place where we exercise our minds just like we exercise our bodies? A place where transforming your mind not only improves your own well-being, but cascades to the well-being of others in your community and around the globe?

We’re making this vision a reality at the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Faced with mental and physical health challenges at a global scale, we conduct rigorous scientific research to bring new insights and tools aimed at improving the well-being of people of all backgrounds and ages.

Our research, rooted in neuroscience, comes down to one basic question: What constitutes a healthy mind?

To begin to answer this, we’ve investigated the science of emotions, contemplative practices and qualities of mind we suspect affect well-being, including attention, resilience, equanimity, savoring positive emotions, kindness, compassion, gratitude and empathy. The Center, part of one of the world’s top research institutions, benefits from cross-disciplinary collaborations in the arts and humanities, the physical and natural sciences, and the social sciences. We take pride in being a global hub for innovations in affective and contemplative neuroscience in addition to well-being across the lifespan.

The Center was founded by Richard J. Davidson. You can learn more at the link below:

centerhealthyminds.org/