Center for Healthy Minds | 625 W. Washington Ave., Madison, WI 53703
Media Coverage
It's worth starting your meditation practice right now. Here's why.
Mar 29, 2021
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson discusses why meditation is beneficial, including improved mental health and reducing implicit bias.
Finding hope during a pandemic
Mar 22, 2021
Honorary Fellow Pelin Kesebir discusses how hope can be used as fuel to continue to keep pressing on during challenging times.
The Zen of competition
Mar 19, 2021
Center collaborator Chad McGehee talks about using meditation and mindfulness to strengthen and condition the mind in athletes to improve performance.
UWPD to require additional vetting for officers at UW football games
Mar 12, 2021
Center Scientist Dan Grupe talks about research with UWPD and other police departments in Dane County to determine the impact of mindfulness meditation training to reduce the use of force by officers.
Becoming a Buddhist Climate Scientist
Mar 10, 2021
Dekila Chungyalpa, director of the Loka Initiative, talks about her work with religious and indigenous leaders, scientists, and policymakers to design community-based environmental and climate programs. She also discusses how she relies on Buddhist Buddhist teachings on emptiness, impermanence, non-attachment and compassion to sustain her during times of eco-anxiety and distress.
Forget what you think happiness is
Mar 05, 2021
Center Founder and Director Richard J. Davidson discusses the importance of taking care of mental health through meditation, just as we exercise for physical health.
Speaking of Psychology: How meditation can help you live a flourishing life, with Richard Davidson, PhD
Mar 03, 2021
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson joins the Speaking of Psychology podcast to discuss the research behind meditation and well-being, how meditation affects the brain and the four pillars of well-being
Can being happy help me fight infection?
Feb 05, 2021
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson discusses research that suggests cultivating well-being could improve immunity.
Nourishing the Mind with Richie Davidson- Founder and Director, Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Feb 03, 2021
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson joins the Health Gig Podcast to discuss the pillars of well-being and how people can cultivate these skills in their daily life.
What Wisconsin Education Advocates Want To See From The Next State Superintendent
Jan 26, 2021
Tony Chambers, Director of Equity, Inclusion and Innovation at the Center, discusses what he hopes to see from the next Wisconsin State Superintendent in order to increase diversity and equity in schools.
Cortland Dah, research Scientist at the Center, shares tips for infusing positivity into your day in order to reduce stress and anxiety
Jan 25, 2021
Tactics to fight anxiety and stress in the wake of a tumultuous election
Why meditation changes the brain
Jan 24, 2021
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson and Mingyur Rinpoche talk about the science of meditation and how improving the skills of awareness and compassion and improve well-being.
Can Happiness Be Taught?
Jan 21, 2021
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson talks about neuroplasticity and the four skills that can be learned to improve well-being
The 4 Steps That Will Increase Happiness, According To A New Study
Dec 30, 2020
The four pillars of well-being based on the Center's research: awareness, connection, insight and purpose, are shared along with practical tips for cultivating mental wellness on a daily basis
How to detox from election anxiety, according to mental health experts
Nov 09, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson talks about how simple self-care practices can be easily integrated into your daily routine.
Survive election uncertainty with these expert tips on how to cope
Nov 07, 2020
The Healthy Minds Program app and the Center for Healthy Minds are featured as resources to help calm anxious thoughts and restless energy related to the election.
Meditation apps have been booming during the pandemic
Nov 06, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson talks about the benefits of simple practices in meditation apps.
How to Stay Emotionally Balanced
Sep 23, 2020
Center Scientist Pelin Kesebir shares information about managing emotional styles that affect health and relationships.
Well-being can be learned
Sep 18, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson talks about how our brains are constantly being shaped, and that well-being is a skill that each of us can develop.
Dr. Pelin Kesebir - How to Sustain Happiness
Sep 03, 2020
Center Scientist Pelin Kesebir explains how we can change our brains towards sustained happiness through self awareness and how self kindness is essential in that transformation
Learning Early to ‘Taste the Stillness’ Can Set a Child Up for Lifelong Well-being
Aug 11, 2020
Not only is it possible to teach mindfulness to small children, says Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson, it’s easier than teaching it to adults, and it can set them on the path to emotional and physical wellness for a lifetime.
How Do You Measure Mindfulness?
Aug 05, 2020
Mindfulness can reduce the risk of relapse in people with depression, help manage chronic pain and improve some measures of heart health. Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson shares insights from research that points to physical benefits of meditation
How a Muppet Can Help Kids of Incarcerated Parents
Jul 02, 2020
Faculty member Julie Poehlmann-Tynan talks about educational materials created with Sesame Street to help kids and families of Incarcerated Parents.
Zen on Zoom: Community meditation moves online
Jun 27, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson talks about the benefits of meditation and the importance of building a regular practice.
9 Activities to Ease Depression
Jun 17, 2020
Center founder and director Richard Davidson shares research-backed tips for easing depression.
Cultivating A Healthy Mind In Times Of Crisis
Jun 15, 2020
talk about well-being during Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson discusses COVID-19, the role of contemplative practice in social justice work and policing, and how to cultivate a healthy mind at any age.
UW study finds children benefited from Sesame Workshop incarceration resources
Jun 13, 2020
A new study from Center faculty member, Dr. Julie Poehlmann-Tynan and other researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison finds that families affected by parental incarceration benefited from resources that Sesame Workshop developed to support them.
How to make good decisions when you're paralyzed by the stress of protests and the pandemic
Jun 04, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson talks about research that suggests that meditation can create physical changes in the brain within a short time of beginning to practice.
That Daydreaming You Did While Isolated at Home Was Good for You
Jun 03, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson shares the value of daydreaming. He suggests sitting alone, without stimuli, and looking inward. Intentional daydreams can harness the full power of the human mind, especially during challenging times.
5 natural ways to boost your mental health during stressful times
Jun 02, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson talks about how meditation can nurture the mind and improve well-being. He shares tips for getting started with meditation.
UW prof helps cultivate healthy minds during pandemic through YouTube meditations
Jun 01, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson has been offering regular virtual meditations alongside meditation trainers and experts on the Healthy Minds Innovations YouTube Channel throughout the COVID-19 pandemic
Insights from the Dalai Lama during quarantine
May 30, 2020
Center Founder Richard Davidson and ABC News’ Dan Harris speak with the Dalai Lama about meditation and how to relax and stay calm during the pandemic.
The Dalai Lama's simple advice to navigating COVID-19 isolation
May 27, 2020
His Holiness spoke with ABC News' Dan Harris in an interview for "Nightline" about how he is spending his time while self-isolating during COVID-19 pandemic. This is a clip from a recent video interview with Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson
The Dalai Lama’s Advice for Right Now
May 27, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson appears on a recent Ten Percent Happier podcast with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Ten Percent Happier's Dan Harris
Dekila Chungyalpa on uniting faith leaders to bolster climate activism
May 26, 2020
Loka Director Dekila Chungyalpa is interviewed on the Go Simone podcast. She shares the back-story of the Loka Initiative and how it supports faith leaders with education, tools and resources in support of conservation and climate activism.
These Different Forms Of Meditation Take Both Fresh & Traditional Approaches On An Ancient Practice
May 21, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson shares tips for developing a meditation habit, and suggests that the best form of meditation is whatever form of meditation you actually do
7 benefits of meditation, and how it can affect your brain
May 19, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson shares tips for incorporating meditation into your life, and the research that explains how regular meditation may help
How to Maintain Motivation in a Pandemic
May 18, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson shares insights from research that shows altruistic behavior can enhance feelings of well-being.
Unique position as Badgers' director of meditation training offers Chad McGehee chance to explore mental performance
May 01, 2020
Chad McGehee, former Program Manager with Healthy Minds Innovations, joined UW Athletics in a new position focused on exploring mental performance with athletes
Healthy Minds Innovations calms an anxious world with live YouTube meditations
Apr 29, 2020
Healthy Minds Innovations has been offering live guided meditations each weekday to help people feel more calm and become more resilient during this challenging time. Center founder and director Richard Davidson shares insights from his live meditations.
Healing from a Distance: Using faith, mindful practices when isolated from loved ones
Apr 23, 2020
Center Founder and Director shares insights from research about the value of expressing appreciation or gratitude for those we love. This can be especially helpful when we are not able to be together with loved ones during the pandemic.
It's OK to slow down: Why you don't have to optimize your coronavirus quarantine
Apr 13, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson shares advice for practicing appreciation and self-compassion during the COVID-19 pandemic
When stress hits you like a slap in the face, how do you respond?
Apr 07, 2020
Center founder and director Richard Davidson suggests leaving visual cues as reminders to practice mindfulness, even when you're under extreme stress
Mindfulness for Preservice Teacher Education
Apr 05, 2020
Postdoctoral Research Associate Matt Hirshberg talks about how mindfulness can help preservice teachers improve classroom skills.
What Can a Buddhist Monk Teach Us About Panic and the Brain?
Mar 26, 2020
The Center's new longitudinal MRI case study of a Buddhist monk suggests that daily meditation may slow down brain aging over time.
Turning Social Distancing Into a Positive
Mar 25, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson talks about how social distancing can be seen as an act of generosity during the time of COVID-19
Daily meditation may help protect the brain from aging, study of Buddhist Monk's brain suggests
Mar 24, 2020
Newsweek highlights a Center study that scanned the brain of a Buddhist Monk, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, over the course of 14 years. Findings suggest daily meditation could help protect the brain from aging
How To Cope With COVID-19 Anxiety
Mar 24, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson talks about acting with compassion through social distancing and how to manage anxiety during this challenging time
Daily meditation could slow aging in your brain, study says
Mar 20, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson talks about a Center study that found daily, intensive meditation slowed a monk's brain aging by as much as eight years
Meditation may have shaved 8 years of aging off Buddhist monk's brain
Mar 17, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson shares details from a recent study of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche's brain that suggests meditative practice may be associated with slowed biological aging
How meditation changes your brain
Feb 18, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson talks with the BBC about a Center research study with Buddhist monks that showed meditation can change the brain in enduring ways
Inflammation, Saunas, and the New Science of Depression
Feb 17, 2020
Faculty member Charles Raison talks about depression and recent research on mind-body coherence and interventions
How Dekila Chungyalpa Draws on Faith to Protect the Planet
Feb 09, 2020
Dekila Chungyalpa, Director of the Loka Initiative, talks about how she has brought faith and environmentalism together to help lead interfaith climate activism.
St. George’s Episcopal School stresses social and emotional learning
Jan 21, 2020
Teachers at St. George’s Episcopal School in New Orleans share their experience with the Center's Kindness Curriculum
Compassion Training Could Help Parents And Their Children
Jan 15, 2020
Julie Poehlmann-Tynan, a Center faculty member, talks about the impacts of compassion on young children and parents
UW-Madison researchers use video game to teach kids mindfulness
Jan 13, 2020
Center scientists share the impact from a study where kids played a video game to train mindfulness
Are we morally obligated to meditate?
Jan 10, 2020
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson shares insights from research on how developing the skill of compassion can help us be happier while making others happier too.
Are Politics and Climate Change Giving You Existential Anxiety?
Jan 06, 2020
Pelin Kesebir, a scientist at the Center, shares perspective on the history of existential anxiety and how to cope with it
Five Ways to Improve Your Mental Health in 2020
Jan 03, 2020
CNN shares strategies from Center Director Richard Davidson to build gratitude and improve emotional health.
Seven Personal Management Tips To Help You Save Time
Dec 16, 2019
Richard Davidson's thoughts on well-being are featured in this Forbes article on personal management
A Kid In A Refugee Camp Thought Video Games Fell From Heaven. Now He Makes Them
Dec 11, 2019
Games where a player takes on another person's perspective or becomes immersed in a specific environment can be beneficial in building positive interpersonal relationships, according to Tammi Kral, a research assistant at the Center.
Can compassion help heal patients — and providers?
Nov 20, 2019
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson discusses a research study at the center that focused on compassion training.
Can a Trip-Free Psychedelic Still Help People With Depression?
Nov 07, 2019
Faculty Charles Raison is featured talking about his upcoming research study that looks into how psilocybin helps people with depression and whether access consciousness plays a role.
Why We Hate Documentary
Nov 03, 2019
The work of the Center for Healthy Minds was featured in the final episode on hope of the Discovery Channel documentary Why We Hate
Center for Healthy Minds offers 'Kindness Curriculum' to parents and teachers
Oct 14, 2019
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson talks about the Kindness Curriculum, developed by researchers at the center, and how it can help children learn how pay closer attention to their emotions and behave more altruistically.
The Kindness Curriculum
Oct 10, 2019
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson shares insights about the Kindness Curriculum, which is a free resource available to teachers and parents of young children.
The Science-Backed Benefits of Practising Mindfulness
Oct 03, 2019
An overview of research-backed benefits of mindfulness that includes mention of Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson's research on long-term meditators
The Third Story Podcast: Richard Davidson
Sep 17, 2019
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson appears on the Third Story podcast and discusses how happiness and compassion can be learned, and why now is a crucial time for research,
Can Changing Your Mind Change the World?
Sep 04, 2019
Based on Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson's lecture at the World Bank’s Science of Learning Expert Series, the article discusses the four constituents of well-being – awareness, connection, insight, and purpose
Researchers Develop Mindfulness-Based Kindness Curriculum for Preschoolers
Sep 04, 2019
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson talks about the Kindness Curriculum and how it can help preschoolers pay closer attention to their emotions
UW-Madison Professor Develops Kindness Curriculum
Sep 03, 2019
Center Founder Richard Davidson discusses the Kindness Curriculum and how it can help preschool-aged children develop kindness as a skill.
What Meditation Does To Your Brain When You’re Annoyed, According To Experts
Aug 28, 2019
Center Founder Richard Davidson talks about how meditation changes the brain over time with ongoing practice
Two studies reveal benefits of mindfulness for middle school students
Aug 26, 2019
Two MIT studies show potential benefits of mindfulness training for middle school students. Center Founder Richard Davidson shares his thoughts on the research.
8 Habits of Mindful Leaders
Aug 16, 2019
The Enterpriser's Project mentions Center Founder Richard Davidson's book, "Altered Traits" in addition to habits of mindful leaders
What Meditation Looks Like In Your Brain, According To Experts
Aug 11, 2019
Richard Davidson, among other researchers, are quoted on the effects of meditation on the brain.
Social and emotional learning and neuroplasticity: Why it matters
Aug 02, 2019
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson wrote the forward for The Blue DOT magazine on the topic of neuroplasticity and the ability to develop well-being as a skill.
Parental guidance - Dane County hopes to help inmates be better parents
Jul 11, 2019
Faculty member Julie Poehlmann-Tynan discusses the complications that families face when a parent is incarcerated and the impacts on a child's development
EXCLUSIVE: ‘I’m not the only one who has a mom in jail’: Camp reunites locked-up mothers with their kids
Jul 11, 2019
Faculty member Julie Poehlmann-Tynan discusses the importance for children to build positive relationships with an incarcerated parent
Innovators in Diversity and Inclusion Named to Madison Magazine's 2019 M List
Jun 24, 2019
The Loka Initiative has received a 2019 M List award from Madison Magazine, and was selected for the initiative's innovative contributions toward diversity and inclusion
The New Science Behind Mindfulness Podcast
Jun 19, 2019
BB&R Consulting Group interviewed Center Founder Richard Davidson about research at the Center for Healthy Minds
Can Meditation Help Enable Human Flourishing?
Jun 11, 2019
Medium discusses research featured in Center Founder Richard Davidson's book, "Altered Traits."
Aging Is A State Of Mind
Jun 06, 2019
Center researcher Pelin Kesebir discusses how gratitude can help cultivate a positive experience with aging
How the Brains of Master Meditators Change
May 30, 2019
Richard Davison joins The Ezra Klein Show to discuss what he learned from bringing the Dalai Lama to his lab.
You Can Change Your Emotional Style
May 07, 2019
Center Founder and Director Richard Davison talks about the six emotional styles, and how to change your default style
The Six Emotional Styles
May 07, 2019
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson discusses the six emotional styles.
Yes, the Internet is Destroying Our Collective Attention Span
May 03, 2019
Founder Richard Davidson talks about the effect of digital stimuli on attention span.
Festival Of Faiths: Psychologist Richard Davidson Says You Can Learn Emotion
Apr 25, 2019
Richard Davidson discusses research that shows we can learn how to be more compassionate, kind and resilient, just like any other skill.
Mom's Everyday: Mindful parenting
Apr 24, 2019
Hosts discuss research from the Center for Healthy Minds that talks about how mindful parenting practices can open up communication with adolescents.
Understanding the Power of Meditation
Apr 19, 2019
This Brainfacts.org article features quotes from Richard Davidson from the Center for Healthy Minds about mindfulness as a learned skill.
New Evidence Shows Meditation Changes the Brain for Better: Silicon Valley's Latest Trend
Apr 04, 2019
This article talks about neuroplasticity and references a 2014 paper written by Richard Davidson and Antoine Lutz
Meditation: Well-being, Like the Violin, is Acquired by Training
Apr 04, 2019
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson talks about research that supports training well-being as a skill
The Best Science-Backed Mindfulness Practices for Stress
Mar 25, 2019
Center researcher Matt Hirshberg shares insights from a recent study that looks into which mindfulness practices work to manage stress.
UW-Madison Ranks 1st In The Nation For PhD Graduates
Mar 07, 2019
Faculty Member Simon Goldberg talks about the high number of PhD graduates at UW-Madison
Elevate by Psych Congress Aims to Reshape Mental Health Care Through Education
Mar 04, 2019
Faculty Member Charles Raison speaks about the Elevate by Psych Congress Conference.
The Science of Happiness
Feb 26, 2019
Research from the Center suggests that happier people's brains are more active in the left prefrontal cortex and we can rewire our brains for happiness.
Former Badger Football Star Chris Borland Returns to Campus to Talk Meditation
Feb 21, 2019
Former Badger football star Chris Borland joined Chad McGehee at University of Wisconsin-Madison to talk football and meditation
The Benefits of Positive Thinking—and How You Can Do More of It
Feb 15, 2019
This Health article features research from Richard Davidson and the Center for Healthy Minds about training your brain to improve compassion
A Neuroscientist on Love and Learning
Feb 14, 2019
Center founder Richard Davidson sits down with Krista Tippett to discuss his groundbreaking research
15 Ways to Give Self Care a Try
Feb 01, 2019
Assistant scientist Pelin Kesebir at the Center says that keeping a gratitude journal is one way to practice self-care.
Integrating Wellness Into Everything We Do
Feb 01, 2019
Assistant scientist Pelin Kesebir says that writing down three good things that happened to you every day for a certain period of time has the potential to change your long-term outlook
Upcoming Events
Healthy Minds LIVE: Learning Well-Being for Life
May 10, 6:00PM
to
7:30PM
The May Healthy Minds LIVE event, "Learning Well-Being for Life" will focus on the lessons learned from education as a way to enhance emotional well-being for everyone, at all stages in life.
Roots of Empathy 2021 Research Symposium
May 11
to
12:00AM
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson will present at the 2021 Roots of Empathy Research Symposium on May 11, 2021.
Varela International Symposium: An Exploration of Uncertainty and Emergence in Self and Society
May 14
to
May 16, 2021
Center Founder and Director Richard J. Davidson and Center Faculty John Dunne will speak at the upcoming Varela International Symposium: An Exploration of Uncertainty and Emergence in Self and Society.
Latest News
Global Leaders in Science, Faith, Medicine and Technology to Gather Virtually for the Fifth International Vatican Conference
April 20, 2021
Center Founder and Director Richard Davidson will speak at The Vatican's Pontifical Council for Culture and The Cura Foundation's Fifth International Vatican Conference on May 7, 2021.
New Research Network to Measure and Promote Emotional Well-Being
March 16, 2021
The University of Wisconsin–Madison has received a $2.5 million four-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish a research network on the plasticity of well-being and to develop innovative measures of the key pillars of well-being. Faculty and experts from the Center for Healthy Minds are leading the effort.
Community Partnership and Inclusion at Heart of New Neuroscience Approach
January 13, 2021
A recent paper explored a promising research framework that adapts research on well-being practices such as meditation to be more inclusive to underrepresented groups of people.