A University of Wisconsin-Madison professor's research into the benefits of meditation is the subject of a new documentary film that will appear at the Milwaukee Film Festival next week.
The film, "Free The Mind," focuses on Richard J Davidson, a professor of psychology and psychiatry, and his focus on meditative techniques. Davidson has researched how practices, such as deep breathing and meditation, which are typically utilized to transform minds can actually have a physical affect at changing the brain.
In his research, Davidson, who is the founder and chair of the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds at the Waisman Center, used these "mindfulness" techniques with two different subject groups -- veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and children suffering from extreme Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). He said the findings suggest that it is worth trying these practices in cases such as PTSD to determine if they can be helpful even if only to some people.
“One of the things we do know, is that traditional treatments are only effective in, at best, half the population, and so, half the population is really not helped," he said. "And so, we need to look for other methods."
The techniques, like physical exercise, must be practiced continuously to have a positive impact.
Davidson said his hope is that children who are learning these mindfulness activities will become second nature to them and that they’ll carry this forward in their growth and development.
But as for adults, they need to practice, he said.
“None of us would think that you can do two weeks of physical exercise and then have the effects endured if you then stopped exercising for the rest of your life. This is a life-long practice,” said Davidson.
"Free The Mind" is screening on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Oriental Theater in Milwaukee. A discussion will be held afterward with Davidson.
