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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Center for Healthy Minds Opens Doors

Research to be focused on positive aspects of brain like empathy, kindness; facility received donation from Dalai Lama

An orange ribbon and deep maroon bow marked the opening celebration of a first-of-its-kind research center at the University of Wisconsin at the Waisman Center Monday.

The new Center for Investigating Healthy Minds focuses on the adaptability and nourishing of the mind to change it for the better, said Director Richard Davidson.

Research at the center examines positive aspects of the brain like kindness and compassion, Davidson said, in contrast to more traditional methods of studying fear and anxiety.

With the idea that through cultivation of positive qualities, an individual can transform their mind, the center aims to apply their research to individuals, such as children with autism, who can benefit from practices like meditation or yoga, Davidson said.

CIHM offers a unique splash of color compared to its surrounding stark white hallways. The entrance welcomes the visitor with deep maroon wall paint and orange and yellow paper cranes strung from the ceiling.

Inside, the center provides a home for scientists, graduate students, post docs and community members, said CIHM’s director of communications and marketing Mel Charbonneau.

But once inside the meditation room — a unique feature of the center — natural lighting and large, white archways transform maroon mats and pillows lining the floor into a calm, serene area. (MORE)

Source: UW Badger Hearld

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