JhaLab August2013 Final2 - The Jha Lab€¦ · · 2013-08-08Mindful Moments Summer 2013...
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Mindful Moments Summer 2013 Newsletter Laboratory of Dr. Amishi Jha University of Miami Welcome to our Summer 2013 Newsletter! In the Jha Lab we investigate how the brain pays attention and how mental training involving mindfulness- based techniques may strengthen the brain’s attentional capacity. Summer is a time to reflect, relax, and revive our attention. As we, in the Jha Lab reflect on all of the events of the past academic year, we are filled with a sense of excitement and gratitude for projects completed, visitors greeted, papers published, and grants supported. Our goal with this newsletter is to keep colleagues, friends, and supporters of the lab updated on our scientific adventures. One of our recent successes was completion of a 4-year project involving mindfulness training in predeployment soldiers in Oahu, Hawaii, known as the STRONG project. Read more about our current projects, presentations, and activities below. Mindful Moments Summer 2013 Copyright Amishi P. Jha Jha Lab Online Amishi presents at the World Economic Forum In June 2013 we celebrated the move of our lab into our new home--the University of Miami’s new Neuroscience Building! This building was funded by a $14M NIH grant awarded to the Dept of Psychology to establish a state-of the art functional neuroimaging Center. When I began my position as Associate Professor at the University of Miami in the Fall 2010 I looked forward to this transition, and am so gratified that the anticipation is over. I arrived from the University of Pennsylvania, where I was an Assistant Professor (2002-2010) at the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience. In tandem with developing our neuroimaging efforts here at UM, I am passionate about expanding the research and practice of mindfulness on the UM Campus. The Mindfulness Research and Practice Initiative (mindfulness.miami.edu) is the first step toward my goal of building a top-tier Institute for Mindfulness. The pairing of state-of-the art brain science with contemplative training comprises the new field of contemplative neuroscience. This field investigates how mental training involving mindfulness and other completive practices may strengthen and optimize brain health and psychological well-being. We have received very generous support from Mrs. Maria Kluge, Mr. Alan Potamkin and Dr. Brigett Rok, and Mr. and Mrs. Eduardo and Anne Sardina to launch this initiative. With the funds that their gifts provide, we will be able to begin to engage in many innovative research projects. We thank them for their generosity! To learn more about supporting our fundraising efforts, as well as naming opportunities please email [email protected]. Building Contemplative Neuroscience at the University of Miami By Amishi Jha Amishi with 3BCT Battalion Commanders from the STRONG Project at Schofield Barracks, Oahu, Hawaii Amishi was invited to present at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2013. She gave a presentation on mindfulness and attention in the ‘Ideas Lab’ on healthy living. In addition, she participated in several panels including one on “what is special about humans” with NIH-director Francis Collins and Mattheiu Ricard. She also had productive meetings with Arianna Huffington on mindful leadership. Jha Lab mentioned during US Congress’ Discussion on Healthcare Congressman Tim Ryan (Ohio-D) discussed the use of mindfulness-based training for health care in Congress on June 26, 2013. He said, “They’re using mindfulness-based stress reduction because we now know, in 2013, given all of the brain science, all of the research that the neuroscientists have done all over the country and the world, Dr. Richard Davidson, at the University of Wisconsin, and Dr. Amishi Jha at the University of Miami, all of the greatest institutions in the United States and the scientists that run these labs, that study the body, study the mind, they know that the future of health care is self-care.”
Transcript of JhaLab August2013 Final2 - The Jha Lab€¦ · · 2013-08-08Mindful Moments Summer 2013...
Mindful MomentsSummer 2013 Newsletter Laboratory of Dr. Amishi Jha University of Miami
Welcome to our Summer 2013Newsletter! In the Jha Lab weinvestigate how the brain paysattention and how mentaltraining involving mindfulness-based techniques maystrengthen the brain’s attentionalcapacity. Summer is a time toreflect, relax, and revive ourattention. As we, in the Jha Labreflect on all of the events of thepast academic year, we arefilled with a sense of excitementand gratitude for projectscompleted,
visitors greeted, paperspublished, and grants supported.Our goal with this newsletter is tokeep colleagues, friends, andsupporters of the lab updated onour scientific adventures. One ofour recent successes wascompletion of a 4-year projectinvolving mindfulness training inpredeployment soldiers in Oahu,Hawaii, known as the STRONGproject. Read more about ourcurrent projects, presentations,and activities below.
Mindful Moments Summer 2013 Copyright Amishi P. Jha
Jha Lab Online Amishi presents at the World Economic Forum
In June 2013 we celebrated the move of our lab into our new home--the Universityof Miami’s new Neuroscience Building! This building was funded by a $14M NIHgrant awarded to the Dept of Psychology to establish a state-of the art functionalneuroimaging Center. When I began my position as Associate Professor at theUniversity of Miami in the Fall 2010 I looked forward to this transition, and am sogratified that the anticipation is over. I arrived from the University of Pennsylvania,where I was an Assistant Professor (2002-2010) at the Center for CognitiveNeuroscience. In tandem with developing our neuroimaging efforts here at UM, Iam passionate about expanding the research and practice of mindfulness on theUM Campus. The Mindfulness Research and Practice Initiative(mindfulness.miami.edu) is the first step toward my goal of building a top-tierInstitute for Mindfulness. The pairing of state-of-the art brain science withcontemplative training comprises the new field of contemplative neuroscience.This field investigates how mental training involving mindfulness and othercompletive practices may strengthen and optimize brain health andpsychological well-being. We have received very generous support from Mrs.Maria Kluge, Mr. Alan Potamkin and Dr. Brigett Rok, and Mr. and Mrs. Eduardo andAnne Sardina to launch this initiative. With the funds that their gifts provide, we willbe able to begin to engage in many innovative research projects. We thank themfor their generosity! To learn more about supporting our fundraising efforts, as wellas naming opportunities please email [email protected].
Building Contemplative Neuroscience at the University of Miami
By Amishi Jha
Amishi with 3BCT Battalion Commanders from the STRONG Project at Schofield Barracks, Oahu, Hawaii
Amishi was invited to present at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2013. She gave a presentation on mindfulness and attention in the ‘Ideas Lab’ on healthy living.
In addition, she participated in several panels including one on “what is special about humans”with NIH-director Francis Collins and Mattheiu Ricard. She also had productive meetings with Arianna Huffington on mindful leadership.
Jha Lab mentioned duringUS Congress’ Discussion on Healthcare
Congressman Tim Ryan (Ohio-D) discussed the use of mindfulness-based training for health care in Congress on June 26, 2013. He said, “They’re using mindfulness-based stress reduction because we now know, in 2013, given all of the brain science, all of the research that the neuroscientists have done all over the country and the world, Dr. Richard Davidson, at the University of Wisconsin, and Dr. Amishi Jha at the University of Miami, all of the greatest institutions in the United States and the scientists that run these labs, that study the body, study the mind, they know that the future of health care is self-care.”
Mindful Moments Fall 2012/Winter 2013 Copyright Amishi P. Jha
A Mindful Miami!
Show on the Road!
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Lab research assistants Cristina Garcia and Nina Rostruppresented research on attention in high stress cohorts atthe annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in NewOrleans, LA. In addition, the lab conducted data collectionon soldiers for the STRONG project at Schofield Barracks inHawaii and in Fort Drum, NY. In addition to the work withsoldiers, the Jha lab has recently begun the STRONGSpouses project to offer mindfulness training to militaryspouses. Amishi described the project plans at the ArmyFamily Resilience conference at Fort Drum in February,2013.
Amishi with UM Trustee Stuart Miller (L), Goldie Hawn and UM Dean Leonides Bachas (Center), and UM School of Medicine Dean Pasqual Goldschmidt and Miami‐Dade School Superintended Alberto Carvahlo (R).
Mindfulness Training is taking root in Miami, withmany events aimed at advancing andpopularizing mindfulness training and research. InNovember 2012, at an event hosted by UMTrustee Stuart Miller, Amishi proposed acollaboration between the Jha lab and theSylvester Cancer Center to investigatemindfulness training and pediatric cancer care.Goldie Hawn spoke about the successes of theHawn Foundation to promote mindfulness inchildren.
In May 2013, Congressman Tim Ryan visited Miami for the launch of thenonprofit organization Mindful Kids Miami (MKM). The Jha lab will becollaborating with this MKM to test the impact of mindfulness training onteachers ability to pay attention and regulate emotions, which are tied toreducing stress, reducing burnout, and improving job performance andsatisfaction. Congressman Ryan and Amishi visited with University of MiamiPresident and former Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. DonnaShalala. Congressman Ryan’s book A Mindful Nation, features the Jhalab’s work and surveys the many sectors of US Society which utilizemindfulness for healthcare and education.
In October 2012, Amishiparticipated in aroundtable discussion withmany leaders in the field ofmindfulness research duringthe 25th anniversarymeeting of the Mind andLife Institute held in NewYork City. The discussionwas attended by honoredguest and MLI boardmember HH Dalai Lama.How to best offer secularforms of mindfulness andcompassion training andhow to best supportscientists interested incontemplativeneuroscience wereimportant themes of thediscussion. (Top to bottom:Amishi with Cliff Saron andJon Kabat-Zinn, HH DalaiLama, in discussion withRichie Davidson andThupten Jinpa, Amishi withMaria Kluge and MatthieuRicard).
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Mindful Moments Summer 2013 Copyright Amishi P. Jha
Active Research ProjectsWe are currently conducting several mindfulnesstraining projects which are supported by $3.5Million in funding from the Department of Defense,private foundations, and individual gifts. The broadaim of these projects is to determine if the mindcan be trained to be more resilient, moreattentive, and happier using mindfulness andcompassion practices. The projects have involvedsoldiers, military spouses, ROTC cadets, andundergraduates. The data from these studies aresuggesting that mindfulness training does indeedstrengthen the brain’s ability to pay attention,regulate mood, and stay on task. The next phaseof this research will involve investigating thestructural and functional brain changes that comewith mindfulness training in high stress populations.
Amishi’s CornerThank you for taking the time to read ourNewsletter. We are very grateful for thesupport we have received to conduct thisresearch. Yet, there is so much more we areeager to do!
My lab aims to conduct research on topicsthat are at the intersection of beingscientifically interesting and of importancefor promoting social good. All of the largegrants we have received from federallyfunded sources have relied onphilanthropic donations and gifts to seedpilot research. As such, we ask you considersupporting the next generation of ourresearch on topics of attention,mindfulness, and neuroscience.
With deep gratitude,
Hot off the Press!We have several new papers and chapters whichdescribe our work in education and contemplativeneuroscience. Visit amishi.com to obtain copies.
Davidson, R., Dunne, J., Eccles, J. S., Engle, A.,Greenberg, M., Jennings, P., Jha, A., Jinpa, T.,Lantieri, L., Meyer, D., Roeser, R. W., & Vago,D. (2012). Contemplative Practices andMental Training: Prospects for AmericanEducation. Child Development Perspectives.6(2): 146-153.
Roeser, R. W., Schonert-Reichl, K. A., Jha, A.,Cullen, M., Wallace, L., Wilensky, R., Oberle,E., Thomson, K., Taylor, C., & Harrison, J.(2013). Mindfulness Training and Reductions inTeacher Stress and Burnout: Results From TwoRandomized, Waitlist-Control Field Trials.Journal of Educational Psychology.
Morrison, A. B., & Jha, A. P. (forthcoming, 2014).Mindfulness, attention, and working memory.In Ostafin, B. D. (Ed.), Handbook ofMindfulness and Self-Regulation. New York:Springer.
Jha, A. P., Rogers, S. L., & Morrison, A. B.(forthcoming, 2014). Mindfulness training inhigh stress professions: Strengtheningattention and resilience. In R. A. Baer (Ed.),Mindfulness-based treatment approaches: Aclinician’s guide (2nd ed.). San Diego:Elsevier.
Mindfulness Resources
Books (with CDs for guided practice)• Mindfulness for Beginners, Jack Kornfield• Real Happiness, Sharon Salzberg
App for Your Smartphone• “Headspace” (getsomeheadspace.com)
Amishi’s article on Mindfulness Training is the cover story of the March 2013 issue of Scientific American Mind. It provides an accessible overview of the evidence base for mindfulness training and guidance on how to get started with a daily mindfulness practice.
