Judson Brewer

Psychiatrist Judson Brewer, MD-PhD, is a recognized expert in the intersection of mindfulness and addiction, emphasizing the "science of self-mastery." With over 20 years of experience combining mindfulness training with scientific research, he has developed effective digital and app-based therapeutics targeting behaviors such as smoking, emotional eating, and anxiety. His work has significantly advanced the understanding of the psychological mechanisms and brain processes involved in habit formation and mindfulness. Brewer's innovative approaches include the popular apps "Craving to Quit," "Eat Right Now," and "Unwinding Anxiety," which have been clinically proven to aid in managing various addictive behaviors and reducing anxiety among physicians.

As the Director of Research and Innovation at the Mindfulness Center and an associate professor in psychiatry at the School of Medicine at Brown University, Dr. Brewer continues to lead groundbreaking studies. He is also a research affiliate at MIT. His research employs both standard and real-time fMRI and EEG neurofeedback to explore the neural mechanisms underlying mindfulness. This research has been instrumental in developing novel, evidence-based mindfulness programs that are both effective in-person and accessible through mobile applications.

Dr. Brewer's contributions to the field have been recognized in numerous high-profile publications and media appearances including "60 Minutes," a TED talk which is the 4th most viewed talk of 2016 with over 10 million views, and coverage in Time magazine as part of the "top 100 new health discoveries of 2013." He is also the author of "The Craving Mind: from cigarettes to smartphones to love, why we get hooked and how we can break bad habits," which encapsulates his profound insights into habit change and the potentials of mindfulness. Through his work and his role as a founder of MindSciences, Brewer continues to enhance the reach and efficacy of mindfulness-based treatments, contributing significantly to health resilience and recovery, particularly in the medical field.