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Can Emotions Be Measured In Your Brain?

EUSKALANATO
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When Richard Davidson first began his doctoral work more than 30 years ago, the disciplines of neuroscience and psychology didn't play well together.

 The idea that emotions were brain activity that could actually be measured and quantified in a laboratory setting was dismissed by most researchers. But Davidson persevered and is today the foremost expert on the science of emotions.  

Davidson is a professor of psychology and psychiatry at UW-Madison. He’s been the subject of a film and has also written a book, The Emotional Life of Your Brain, that explores how our emotions are as much a part of our brain activity as its other functions, like cognition. 

Lake Effect's Bonnie North spoke with Davidson when his book was first released in 2012, and he explained why the topic of emotions captured his professional interest so early in his career.

"The topic of emotion was something that captured my attention from very early on...because emotions struck me as the core of what human personality is all about," Davidson says.

Davidson will speak at The Rotary Club of Milwaukee luncheon on Tuesday, December 2nd, and at Boswell Book Company.

Bonnie North
Bonnie joined WUWM in March 2006 as the Arts Producer of the locally produced weekday magazine program Lake Effect.
Audrey is a WUWM host and producer for Lake Effect.