md+The+Waisman+Laboratory+for+Brain+Imaging+and+Behavior+and+Laboratory+for+Affective+Neuroscience

March 11th was my first physical trip to Madison, and I was blown away by the tours I was given by Director Dr. Richie Davidson of his primary laboratories:

Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging & Behavior

Laboratory for Affective Neuroscience

Please peruse the links above to find out more details if you are interested.

The following are main points I synthesized after my visit:

 After the tours, I attended a special guest lecture which continues here. It explains environmental factors that contribute to increasing major depression trends as well as analysis of our immune system. (I have more to say about that than I do on this page!)
 * Waisman had multiple types of neuro-imagery scanners that can map the electrical circuitry, blood flow, and other chemicals that elicit emotional responses. Some of these machines can monitor for as long as 30 minutes while external stimuli is presented to the patient.
 * I learned that our brains can change over our entire life span, and that is called neuro-plasticity. Traumatic events can change our brain, as well as a controlled regular habit such as meditation.
 * I saw a radiation lab where they create tracers to follow electrical activity and see how it impacts other regions of the brain. I learned that through functional MRIs the center has been able to demonstrate many difference between a depressed person's brain and a "normal" person's brain. Some of these increased damaged neurotransmitters, elevated plasma levels, decreased rate of blood flow and unbalanced hormones.

See pictures from my trip on March 11th

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