'Dan Rather Reports' to Unlock the Secrets of Mind Science

'Dan Rather Reports' to Unlock the Secrets of Mind Science

HDNet's award-winning news program investigates the new scientific field of neuroplasticity and the unlimited powers of the human brain

DALLAS, April 7, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Can a person really "re-wire" his or her own brain? In this Tuesday's episode of "Dan Rather Reports: Mind Science" Rather and his team investigate the new scientific field of neuroplasticity. This study examines the brain's never-ending ability to change -- giving researchers new hope for treating disease and improving life as we age.

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The study of neuroplasticity has caught the attention of many, including one of the most revered spiritual and philosophical leaders of our time, the Dalai Lama himself. Buddhist Monks who study with the Dalai Lama (and devote their time to rigorous meditation training) now find themselves at the forefront of advanced research performed at the University of Wisconsin. This research is looking to find the connection between the mind, emotion and the brain.

In this episode, Rather speaks to the Dalai Lama about this research and how the study of the mind's power over emotion in the brain can change people's lives.

"I think, from my viewpoint, my expectation, through experiment or through investigation, we will find certain ways to tackle our destructive emotion and try to reduce this negative emotion and increase positive emotion," the Dalai Lama told Rather in a recent interview.

Rather also speaks with Nobel Prize winning doctor, Eric Kandel who discovered how the brain changes to store memories. Dr. Kandel is also currently researching a drug that may slow the affects of age-related memory loss in human beings.

Also in this episode, Rather and his team speak to researchers from the University of California, San Francisco who have developed "exercise" programs for the brain. These programs can help improve aging brains by speeding up the way the brain processes sounds and sights.

The program also travels to the University of Alabama to visit with stroke victims who "retrain" their brains in order to reverse the damaging affects that a stroke has had on their bodies.

"Dan Rather Reports: Mind Science" premieres on HDNet, Tuesday, April 8 at 8:00 p.m. ET with a re-air at 11:00 p.m. ET to accommodate West Coast Prime Time.

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Profile: International Entertainment