ABOUT ME
I am a behavioral neuroscientist and a faculty member at the School of Education and School of Neuroscience at Tel Aviv University. My research interest include neurological and psychological effects of mindfulness training among adults and children. Having personally practiced meditation and yoga for more than 30 years, I began integrating mindfulness teaching and research into my academic agenda. I developed a mindfulness program for children, and study the effects of mindfulness practice through brain imaging and cognitive measures amongst ADHD and/or dyslexic adults. I am part of the team that implemented in Israel the "Call to Care" program developed by the Mind and Life Institute for teachers and pupils, and co-founded the Center for Compassionate MIndful Education. I completed my Ph.D with distinction at the Tel Aviv University Department of Psychobiology.
Call to care - Israel
EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Mindfulness in schools
1983-1986
Hebrew University
Psychology and Statistics
Mindfulness and attention deficits
Normal and abnormal brain development
Statistics and research methods
1988-1992
Tel Aviv University
Psychobiology, M. A. Summa cum laude
Master’s thesis: The role of the subiculo-accumbens pathway in latent inhibition.
Supervisors: Prof. Joram Feldon, Prof. Ina Weiner
1996-2002
Tel Aviv University
Psychobiology, Ph. D. With distinction
Doctoral dissertation: Long term anatomical and functional consequences of quinolinic acid and 3-nitroprioponic acid striatal lesions and their alteration following an addition of a globus pallidus lesion assessed using histological techniques and structural and pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Supervisors: Prof. Ina Weiner, Dr. Gadi Goelman
Yael Blonder
The relationships between meditation, empathy and attachment style among psychotherapists
Natalie Deitsch
The effects of reflexology treatment on tiredness, quality of sleep and quality of life during and after radiation therapy among breast cancer patients
Orit Leibovitz
From a social good example to the use of drugs: on the subjective experience of drug abuse among outstanding students. A narrative approach
Yael Stoler
The effects of meditation and mindfulness on depression and depressive symptoms
Lior Carmi
The effects of meditation practice on ego resilience and psychological well being on a psychiatric population
Dana Asif
The relationship between meditation and decision making
Inbal Michalovitz
Loss, grief, mourning and Buddhism
Michal Shamir
The implementation of Twina massage as part of the treatment of autistic children
Zohar Berman
The mindful reader: On the effects of mindfulness meditation on attention, reading abilities, EEG and neurological correlates of reading among dyslexic students
Einav Ginesin
The effects of mindfulness training among school children. Comparing a school that practices weekly to a non-practicing school.
Chen Leven
The effects of mindfulness training on EEG power while performing attentional tasks among ADHD students
Adi Yaakov
The effects of computerized attentional training among ADHD students
Guy Armoni
Evoked response potentials during attentional tests among ADHD students
Efrat Fogel
Assessing the effects Byron Katie's techniques among cancer patients using EEG
Omer Perry
The effects of mindfulness and arousal control techniques on emotional processing and physical performance
Dana Wasser
The effect of mindfulness and compassion practice on empathy, stress, and burnout among veteran teachers
Natalie Ashkenazi
Effects of mindfulness meditation on long term memory, sustained attention and balance among ADHD students
Julia Bobobitz
Effects of mindfulness meditation on academic achievements, executive functions and motoric abilities among students
Lilach Margalit Shalom
The effects of mindfulness meditation on visual perception, motor coordination, attention and emotional characteristics in elementary school children
Hila Shalit
Effects of therapeutic horse riding on attentional functions and social understanding in ADHD children
Carmit Naim
Emotional effects of mindfulness practice among students with ADHD
Tal Shahar
The effects of mindfulness practice among teachers on their teaching abilities, burnout and relation with their pupils
Nikol Asraf
The impact of mindfulness parenting practice on parent-child relations and parents' feelings toward their children among parents with learning disabilities/ADHD
MA STUDENTS SUPERVISED
PHD STUDENTS SUPERVISED
Sarit Cohen-Shalev
The relationship between mirror neurons functions and developmental dyslexia and ADHD
Gana Khaliffo
A call to care: Mindfulness and compassion training among Arab teachers
Roni Nisim
Assessment of resilience factors among combat soldiers with learning disabilities that help them fulfill their potential
Anat Atiya Malki
The impact of mindfulness practice on attention, memory, anxiety, behavior problems and resilience in preschool children who are at high risk of exposure to terrorism
Orit Shelach
The effect of mindfulness practice on math achievements among elementary school pupils with learning disabilities
Ranit Gabrieli
The impact of mindfulness meditation practice on emotion, cognition and achievements among ADHD students
Tomer Gutman
Mindfulness training among adolescent competitive athletes
