Buddhist Brains: Understanding cognition’s affect on physiology

Dr. Davidson with the “Happiest Person in the World”

Read the article below summarizing the work of Dr. Richard Davidson of the University of Wisconsin (GO BADGERS!!!!!)

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/07/dalai-lama-neuroscience-compassion/397706/

You can see a published summary of Davidson’s studies here:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2944261/

After reading the above, consider the following: 

  1. How does Davidson’s statement, “The best way to activate positive emotion circuits in the brain is through generosity” relate to the research discussed by Kelly McGonigal in her Ted Talk on Stress? 
  2. What is the cognitive change that Davidson investigates? 
  3. What is the physiological change that results from the the aforementioned cognitive change? 
  4. What are some possible implications for his findings? 


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