Richard J. Davidson, Ph.D.

Richard J. Davidson, Ph.D. (FAN ’13), is the William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry and founder and director of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he has been a faculty member since 1984. He is also the founder of Healthy Minds Innovations, which translates science into tools to cultivate and measure wellbeing.

Davidson’s research is broadly focused on the neural bases of emotion and emotional style as well as methods to promote human flourishing, including meditation and related contemplative practices. His studies have centered on people across the lifespan, from birth through old age. In addition, he has conducted studies with individuals with emotional disorders such as mood and anxiety disorders and autism, as well as expert meditation practitioners with tens of thousands of hours of experience. His research uses a wide range of methods including different varieties of MRI, positron emission tomography, electroencephalography, and modern genetic and epigenetic methods.

Davidson is best known for his groundbreaking work studying emotion and the brain. A friend and confidante of the Dalai Lama, he is a highly sought after expert and speaker, leading conversations on wellbeing on international stages such as the World Economic Forum, where he serves on the Global Council on Mental Health. Time Magazine named Davidson one of “The 100 Most Influential People in the World” in 2006.

He has published hundreds of scientific papers and is the author, with Sharon Begley, of the 2012 New York Times bestseller The Emotional Life of Your Brain. His 2017 book Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body, was co-authored with close friend and colleague Daniel Goleman, Ph.D. (FAN ’13). His latest book is 2026’s Born to Flourish: How New Science and Ancient Wisdom Reveal a Simple Path to Thriving, co-authored with Cortland Dahl, Ph.D.

Davidson has been featured widely in popular media, including the Today Show, ABC’s Nightline, NPR, National Geographic Magazine, Time Magazine, Newsweek, O: the Oprah Magazine, PBS’s The Charlie Rose Show, Harvard Business Review, and additional national and international news outlets.

Davidson received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in psychology, psychopathology, and psychophysiology with a minor focus in behavioral neurology and neuroanatomy, and a B.S. in psychology from New York University.