On Tuesday, Dec. 9, renowned neuroscientists and psychologists will share research-based mental training techniques that have been shown to improve well-being and contribute to happiness, creativity and productivity. The community lecture is free and open to the public beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the University of Colorado Boulder’s Macky Auditorium.
The event, “Well-being Is a Skill,” will be led by Richard J. Davidson, University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of psychology and psychiatry and founder of the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds.
Davidson is one of the world’s leading experts on the powerful impact of contemplative practices, such as meditation, on the brain. In 2006, he was named one of the most influential people in the world by Time magazine. Davidson is a bestselling author and perhaps best known for his groundbreaking work integrating emotion and the brain.
Drawing on extensive scientific research, Davidson will share how individuals can physically change their brains by cultivating “habits of the mind,” such as mindfulness, meditation and kindness. These practices have been shown to result in enhanced well-being through increased resilience, compassion and emotional balance.
The talk will be followed by a brief panel discussion featuring local experts from CU-Boulder and Naropa University, including:
Tor Wager, professor of psychology and neuroscience at CU-Boulder and director of the Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Lab,
Sona Dimidjian, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at CU-Boulder and director of the Clinical Research for Evidence-based Services and Training Lab, and
Peter Grossenbacher, associate professor of contemplative psychology at Naropa and director of the Consciousness Laboratory.
The event is co-sponsored by CU-Boulder’s Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Arts and Sciences, Office of the Senior Assistant Vice Chancellor for Health and Wellness, and Outreach Committee, along with Naropa University.
The lecture is part of series organized by Dimidjian and the CU-Boulder Clinical Research for Evidence-based Services and Training Lab (CREST). For more information about the event visit http://www.cucrest.com/events/ and for more information about parking near Macky Auditorium visit http://www.colorado.edu/macky/your-visit.
-CU-