Center for Healthy Minds | 625 W. Washington Ave., Madison, WI 53703
Media Coverage
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
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
Mindfulness Can Relieve Stress, but What Techniques Work Best? Clues in New UW Research
Jan 14, 2019
Center researcher Matt Hirshberg discusses his recent research project to discern whether different mindfulness practices have different effects on people
Is Buddhism Scientific or Religious?
Jan 07, 2019
Center faculty John Dunne ponders the assertion that Buddhism is more like a science of the mind than a religion
How To Attract Abundance In Your Life
Dec 20, 2018
This Forbes article features research from Richard Davidson and the Center for Healthy Minds
First Residential School In Asia-Pacific Region For Special Children
Dec 10, 2018
Center founder Richard Davidson shares insights on how secular version of meditation practices can be beneficial for children to learn to pay attention and to regulate their emotions which can end up with better performance in schools
A Neuroscientist On Vanquishing Anger From Our Minds
Dec 07, 2018
Center founder Richard Davidson discusses how much anger is too much anger--and how we can make change by transforming anger into compassion and love
A Neuroscientist On What Anger Does To The Mind
Dec 01, 2018
Center founder Richard Davidson discusses how anger isn't the only way to confront injustice or respond to someone who has treated you badly.
Can Going to a Sauna Make Me Happy?
Nov 30, 2018
Citing research from Center faculty member Charles Raison, this article shares how heat may produce a significant antidepressant effect
Hacking Inner Peace
Nov 29, 2018
In an article discussing the links between meditation and a form of therapy called neurofeedback, Center founder Richard Davidson says that there isn't enough scientific evidence to assert that neurofeedback can be helpful to people meditating
Is Our Constant Use of Digital Technologies Affecting Our Brain Health? We Asked 11 Experts.
Nov 28, 2018
Center founder Richard Davidson shares his concerns about the impacts of technology, specifically the increase in distractability, the national attention deficit we all suffer from, and the consequences that arise from this.
4 Ways to Stay Motivated When You’re in a Rut
Nov 25, 2018
In one of four ways to stay motivated when you're in a rut, Center founder Richard Davidson suggests being kind to yourself. Self-criticism, he says, can lead to ruminative thoughts that have a negative impact on the body.
Mental Hygiene - Madison Researcher Uses Modern Neuroscience to Study Kindness, Compassion & Happiness
Nov 19, 2018
Center founder Richard Davidson shares his philosophy that people can develop mental hygiene skills and nurture qualities like kindness to improve well-being.
Meditation Is a Powerful Mental Tool—and For Some People It Goes Terribly Wrong
Nov 14, 2018
Center founder and director Richard Davidson comments on the pros and cons of using meditation in health contexts.
The Growth of Yoga and Meditation in the US Since 2012 is Remarkable
Nov 09, 2018
Center founder Richard Davidson discusses why people are turning to meditation and cites the increasing levels of anxiety and stress in American culture
Technology of the Future Should Care for Our Well-Being
Nov 09, 2018
Center founder Richard Davidson pens an article about the urgent need for humane technology
Faith Matters: Religion & Spirituality Spotlight 2018
Nov 09, 2018
In a spotlight of books featuring conversations about faith and the planet, Center faculty John Dunne is featured as co-editor of the Dalai Lama's book about ethics and climate change.
A Lot More Americans Are Meditating Now Than Just Five Years Ago
Nov 08, 2018
Center founder Richard Davidson discusses the increasing use of meditation in the United States, as noted in a report by the CDC.
Colleges Teach Students How to Think. Should They Also Teach Them How to Thrive?
Nov 04, 2018
Can the course titled "The Art and Science of Human Flourishing," developed jointly by University of Virginia, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison improve well-being in college students?
Well-Being is a Skill
Oct 31, 2018
During a webinar hosted by Amir H. Imani, Center founder Davidson explains how mental training to cultivate well-being can have a positive impact on happiness, creativity and productivity in the work place and at home.
7 Mental-Health Hacks You Should Do Right This Second
Oct 18, 2018
Center founder Richard Davidson shares a quick hack for calling attention to positive features of your day
Harnessing the Power of Video Games to Teach Children Empathy
Oct 15, 2018
Center founder Richard Davidson discusses the video game Crystals of Kaydor and the implications of teaching kids empathy through video games.
All In Your Mind: How Mindful and Meditative Practices Are Gaining Mainstream Momentum
Oct 08, 2018
Center researcher Cortland Dahl explains how meditation trains the brain to think and observe with intention.
Science Says Happiness Can Change Your Brain
Oct 06, 2018
Center collaborator Matthieu Ricard discusses the science behind happiness, citing the work of Center founder Richard Davidson.
The 4 Keys to Well-Being According to Neuroscience
Oct 03, 2018
Center founder Richard Davidson shares the four keys to well-being: resilience, outlook, awareness and generosity.
Meditation Is Not The Cure Everyone Would Like It To Be
Oct 01, 2018
Center founder Richard Davidson discusses the need for more quality research studying meditation, as well as warning the public against considering meditation a cure-all
No Major Deficiencies Noted in Wisconsin Athletics' Safety Review But 'There Are Places Where We Can Improve'
Sep 29, 2018
Center founder Richard Davidson contributed to a safety review of University of Wisconsin-Madison athletics
50 Everyday Habits That Reduce Your Risk of Dementia
Sep 18, 2018
This article focused on brain health cites research from the Center for Healthy Minds
Depression In Pregnancy—How To Keep It From Harming the Baby
Sep 17, 2018
Research from the Center suggests that a mother's mental health impacts a baby's brain development after birth
Can Video Games Be Good For Your Child?
Sep 10, 2018
Research from the Center for Healthy Minds suggests that video games can teach prosocial skills
Can Video Games Actually Teach Kids Empathy? New Study Says Yes
Sep 10, 2018
Researchers from the Center for Healthy Minds have discovered a video game designed to teach children empathy can change young brains and improve social behavior.
Can Video Games Change Your Brain? UW Research Suggests Games Can Build Empathy
Sep 10, 2018
Research from the Center for Healthy Minds shows video games may have the power to help children develop empathy
Scientists Used Video Games to Teach Children Empathy
Sep 07, 2018
Researchers from the Center for Healthy Minds found that video games can teach adolescents prosocial skills
Can A Video Game Build Empathy? UW Researchers May Have Found A Way
Aug 10, 2018
Center founder Richard Davidson discusses the groundbreaking discovery that a video game can build empathy skills in adolescents.
Arts Program Gives Kids with Incarcerated Parents a Stigma-Free Space to Create and Learn
Jul 28, 2018
Center faculty Julie Poehlmann-Tynan are partnering with Cultural Connections, a program aiming aims to provide self-empowerment and confidence for these kids with incarcerated parents.
Meditation Changes The Brain In Different Ways In Veterans And Beginners
Jul 25, 2018
In a new study published in the journal NeuroImage, a team of psychologists at the Center for Healthy Minds at UW-Madison reports that brain activity in veteran meditators, new meditators, and non-meditators varied significantly.
Looking at Depression Through an Evolutionary Lens
Jul 23, 2018
Psych Congress cochair and Center faculty member Charles Raison, MD, gave attendees a “10,000-foot view” of what depression is at the Psych Congress Regionals meeting, and will explore the idea more at the upcoming Psych Congress 2018 preconference.
Cycles of Incarceration Hit African Americans, Children Especially Hard
Jul 14, 2018
Citing the research of Center faculty Julie Poelhmann-Tynan, this article explores the impact of incarceration on children and families, as well as the racial disparities of incarceration rates in Wisconsin.
Mindfulness and Meditation: An Expert Explains the Background of This Ancient Practice
Jul 14, 2018
Center faculty Charles Raison explains how meditation can be helpful for people in stressful situations.
Chad McGehee: "With Mindfulness Students Feel More Secure, More Comfortable and Accepted"
Jul 12, 2018
Chad McGehee, Learning and Program Development Manager at Healthy Minds Innovations, discusses the power of meditation in the classroom.
How Meditation's Physical and Spiritual Benefits May Have Helped Thai Soccer Team Survive
Jul 12, 2018
Citing research from the Center for Healthy Minds, this article explains how meditation can benefit people in stressful situations.
The Thai Cave Football Coach Taught His Team to Meditate to Help Them Through 17-Day Ordeal, Reports Say
Jul 11, 2018
Citing research from the Center for Healthy Minds, this article describes how meditation can help us cope.
The Thai Soccer Coach Taught His Team to Meditate in the Flooded Cave — And it May Have Played a Powerful Role in Keeping Them Alive
Jul 10, 2018
Research from the Center for Healthy Minds shows how meditating can reduce stress and how that may have played a powerful role in the rescue of the 12 trapped Thai soccer players.
Why You Need to Add 10 Minutes of Meditation into Your Day
Jun 27, 2018
Citing research from the Center for Healthy Minds, Glamour magazine explores how just ten minutes of meditation a day can have major health benefits.
Why You Need to Add 10 Minutes of Meditation into Your Day
Jun 26, 2018
Citing research from the Center for Healthy Minds, Vogue Australia explores how just ten minutes of meditation a day can have major health benefits.
Don’t Buy into the Backlash – the Science on Meditation Is Clear
Jun 25, 2018
Center Founder Richard Davidson and Arianna Huffington discuss the science of meditation and its value in the workplace.
Staying Innovative in Madison
Jun 21, 2018
Center Founder Richard Davidson is featured as a leading scientific innovator in Madison Magazine.
Empathic People Use Social Brain Circuitry to Process Music
Jun 18, 2018
Research from the Center for Healthy Minds shows that compassion can be trained like a muscle, and perhaps music can be a tool for learning compassion.
Reconsidering Mindfulness: ‘I Love Stress’
Jun 15, 2018
Teacher David Cutler explains how stress helps him be better at his job, citing Center research.
Compassion is Like a Muscle that Gets Stronger with Training
May 23, 2018
A study conducted by the Center for Healthy Minds found that loving-kindness meditation and compassion training boost empathic resilience.
Why You Should Stop Being So Hard on Yourself
May 22, 2018
Center Founder Richard Davidson says that self-criticism can take a toll on our minds and bodies and it’s time to ease up.
Training Compassion 'Muscle' May Boost Brain's Resilience to Others' Suffering
May 22, 2018
A study conducted by the Center for Healthy Minds found that loving-kindness meditation and compassion training boost empathic resilience.
How to Tell if Babies Are Happy Before They Can Smile
May 08, 2018
Babies communicate their feelings by crying and fussing. To know what’s going on in their heads requires extensive research in brain science.
Everyone is Meditating. Is it Changing the World?
Apr 22, 2018
Center founder Richard Davidson and meditation skeptic Theodore Zeldin discuss whether meditation truly makes the world a better place.
Mindfulness in Education with Chad McGehee
Apr 11, 2018
Well-being expert Chad McGehee shares the impact of mindfulness in education on The Kindness Podcast.
There’s New Evidence that Silicon Valley's Favorite Mindfulness Habit May Help Defeat a Key Problem of Aging
Apr 05, 2018
A growing body of evidence suggests regular meditation is linked with benefits including lower stress and better focus — a key trait that dissipates with age.
Why Self-Love is Important and How to Cultivate it
Mar 23, 2018
For many people, the concept of self-love might conjure images of tree-hugging hippies or cheesy self-help books. But, as many psychology studies attest, self-love and -compassion are key for mental health and well-being, keeping depression and anxiety at bay.
How to Master and Control Your Emotions Based From Thirty-Plus Years of Brain Research
Mar 13, 2018
Center Founder Richard Davidson identifies six emotional styles which refer to your consistent way of responding to what happens to you.
Mindfulness Is Going Mainstream Because of Science
Mar 03, 2018
Center Founder Richard Davidson discusses pioneering mindfulness research and pushing mindfulness-based practices into the mainstream.
How to Train Your Brain to Stay Focused on Important Things that Give Results
Mar 01, 2018
Citing Center Founder Richard Davidson, this article explores how to train your brain to focus better.
Can Meditation Change Your Genes?
Feb 27, 2018
A study from the Center for Healthy Minds suggests that meditation may reduce the expression of genes involved in inflammation.
Running Away or Righting The Way: Is Psilocybin a Viable Psychiatric Treatment?
Feb 15, 2018
Center faculty member Charles Raison discusses the history and future of psychedelics as treatment for mental health.
How Photography Can Help Cultivate Mindfulness and Gratitude
Feb 13, 2018
The Greater Good Science Magazine discusses the Center for Healthy Mind's five-week mindful photography curriculum for elementary students.
Arianna Huffington: Through My Lens
Feb 06, 2018
Arianna Huffington reflects on Center Founder Richard Davidson's research on well-being.
Four Tips To Help You Feel Less Anxious About The Future
Jan 29, 2018
Research from the Center for Healthy Minds shows why humans experience anxiety about the future and how humans can experience less anxiety.
How Do You Teach Kindness To Your Children?
Jan 26, 2018
The Kindness Curriculum from the Center for Healthy Minds provides a framework for teaching compassion and kindness skills in children.
Left Behind: Who Looks Out for Children when Their Parents Go to Prison?
Jan 25, 2018
Center faculty member discusses her groundbreaking research investigating how incarceration affects children.
Nurturing Kindness in Young Children
Jan 25, 2018
Center Founder Richard Davidson talks with Edutopia about fostering altruism, kindness, and compassion in children.
Pre-schoolers Learn Kindness, Mindfulness
Jan 17, 2018
Pre-kindergarten students at Jackson Heights, Queens are being taught kindness. They are one of the first public schools in New York City to introduce the Center Healthy Minds' Kindness Curriculum, a mindfulness-based curriculum for pre-K students.
Healthy Habits of Mind Bring Happiness and Can Be Learned – Even by the Busy
Jan 09, 2018
Center Founder Richard Davidson says research into how mental training like meditation affects our health throws light on what constitutes a healthy mind.
Go On, Get Happy: A Path to Well-Being in 2018
Jan 03, 2018
Center Founder Richard Davidson, who works with specialized electronic instruments, says that self-reported happiness correlates closely to objective data collected through brain scans and heart and breathing measurements.
Exploring Misconceptions of Mind-Training Methods
Dec 27, 2017
Center Founder Richard Davidson joins Wisconsin Public Radio to discuss the scientific research behind what meditation can really do for us.
The Science of Meditation
Dec 27, 2017
In this episode of the Waking Up podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Daniel Goleman and Center Founder Richard Davidson about the current scientific understanding of meditation practice.
There’s a Method to Mind Over Matter. A New Book Shows the Way.
Dec 24, 2017
Instead of focusing on the pop applications of meditation, Daniel Goleman and Center Founder Richard Davidson focus on its capacity to free the mind of negative emotions.
Want a More Altruistic Brain? Try Daily Gratitude Journaling.
Dec 18, 2017
Citing an fMRI study from the Center for Healthy Minds, the author writes that gratitude journaling cultivates "pure altruism" in the brain.
Can Kindness be Taught?
Dec 14, 2017
The Kindness Curriculum from the Center for Healthy Minds is part of a growing global movement to teach emotional intelligence in schools.
Medical Minds
Nov 30, 2017
Knowing that your doctor is under stress may not be comforting, but it might put you more at ease to know that mindfulness — the practice of training your brain to cultivate well-being — is now being taught in medical school.
Officer Zen-dly
Nov 29, 2017
In an interview with Dan Grupe, an assistant scientist at the Center for Healthy Minds, discusses the pilot study examining the effects of mindfulness-based training on a small group of Madison police officers
Meditators Under the Microscope
Nov 03, 2017
Mindful Magazine dives into the science and philosophy behind Daniel Goleman and Center Founder Richard Davidson's new book, "Altered Traits."
How a Consistent and Stable Meditation Practice Leads to Altered Traits
Nov 03, 2017
Daniel Goleman and Center Founder Richard Davidson explain the benefits of a stable practice that go beyond relaxation and focus in this excerpt from their book "Altered Traits."
Good News in Time for Giving Season: Volunteer Hours are Great for your Health, too
Nov 02, 2017
Center Founder Richard Davidson explains how acts of generosity lead to positive emotions that ultimately have an enduring impact on our well-being.
Here’s what Mindfulness is (and isn’t) Good For
Nov 01, 2017
Daniel Goleman, co-author of "Altered Traits," explains what mindfulness can and cannot do, citing the research of Center Founder Richard Davidson.
How Does Meditation Work?
Oct 28, 2017
While meditation is popularly presented as a panacea for the world’s ailments, Daniel Goleman and Center Founder Richard Davidson's new book "Altered Traits" is a highly approachable work based on solid clinical evidence.
Why Doing Good is Good for the Do-Gooder
Oct 26, 2017
Center Founder Richard Davidson explains how acts of generosity lead to positive emotions that ultimately have an enduring impact on our well-being.
How Meditation can Make Hong Kong Healthier and Happier, from Two of the World’s Happiest People
Oct 24, 2017
Center Founder Richard Davidson and Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche explain how meditation practitioners can benefit whether they are children in school or adults in the workplace.
Actually, We Don’t Need More Empathy
Oct 21, 2017
Leading psychologist Daniel Goleman explains why empathy alone rarely leads to action–and proposes a simple meditation exercise to change that, citing Center research.
'Healthy Minds' professor Richard Davidson elected to National Academy of Medicine
Oct 16, 2017
New members are elected by the current active members, based on their accomplishments and contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care and public health.
This ‘Kindness Curriculum’ is Free and Should be Used in Every Classroom
Oct 16, 2017
The Center for Healthy Minds created a mindfulness-based curriculum for preschoolers that will bring kindness into the classroom.
Whole-Body Hyperthermia Can Improve MDD Outcomes
Oct 13, 2017
A new study from Center faculty member Charles Raison suggests that whole-body hyperthermia might decrease depressive symptoms.
How to Change Your Brain With Mindfulness, With Daniel Goleman
Oct 09, 2017
Daniel Goldman and Center Founder Richard Davidson reveal the latest results from Davidson’s own lab: data that point to what the future of mind-training methods should be.
Meditation May Help the Heart, but not at the Expense of Other Healthy Habits
Sep 29, 2017
The American Heart Association (AHA) released a report from a group of scientists include Center Founder Richard Davidson that suggests that meditation may help the heart, though not at the expense of the usual heart-healthy strategies.
Here’s What Mindfulness is (and isn’t) Good For
Sep 28, 2017
Daniel Goleman, co-author of "Altered Traits," explains what mindfulness can and cannot do, citing the research of Center Founder Richard Davidson.
Being Empathetic is Good, but it Can Hurt Your Health
Sep 25, 2017
Is there a healthier way to empathize? Along with other neuroscientists, Center Founder Richard Davidson explores how empathy impacts the brain and how we can do it better.
Can Meditation Lead to Lasting Change?
Sep 25, 2017
Daniel Goleman and Center Founder Richard Davidson's new book, "Altered Traits," reveals how long-term meditation can lead to profound improvements in our mind, brain, and body.
How To Make Mindfulness A Working Advantage (And Not Just Cuddly Nonsense)
Sep 25, 2017
Step one, according to researchers Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson, is ditching the “neuromythology”
At One Preschool, the ABC’s and K, for Kindness
Sep 23, 2017
A Madison-area preschool is teaching youngsters kindness using the Center for Healthy Minds' Kindness Curriculum, made free to preschools a month ago.
Here's What a 'Kindness Curriculum' Looks Like
Sep 20, 2017
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Healthy Minds have created a "kindness curriculum" which they have tested in six schools in that city. The curriculum is available online for free.
Upcoming Events
Edith-Haberland-Wagner Foundation: First Forum for Change
March 18, 2:00PM
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March 19, 9:30PM
Center founder Richard Davidson will participate in a two-day event in partnership with Edith-Haberland-Wagner Foundation. Over the course of two days, he will discuss mindfulness in education as well as hosts a talk discussing his pioneering research into the effects of mindfulness on the brain and how how mental training fundamentally and sustainably contributes to our mental, emotional and physical well-being.
Lesley University Sonnabend Fellow Lecture
March 27
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March 28, 2019
Center founder Richard Davidson is 2019 Lesley University Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences Sonnabend Fellow.
The Science of Meditation at Tergar Madison
April 2, 7:00PM
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8:30PM
Center founder Richard Davidson discusses the latest on the science of meditation and concludes with a short, guided meditation
Latest News
Mindfulness Meditation is Useful in Mental Health Treatment, but Evidence for Some Conditions Outpaces Others
February 14, 2019
Mindfulness meditation is helpful for mental health treatment, but more research is needed
New Partnership Supports Increasing Emotional Well-Being for Teens
February 14, 2019
Healthy Minds Innovations launches a new research partnership to support adolescent well-being
Researchers Warn Mental Impact of Incarceration and Border Separation on Kids
December 17, 2018
Faculty member Julie Poehlmann-Tynan explores the impacts of parent-child separation