Dr. Richard J.
Davidson
Founding Fellow
India Brain Forum
Advancing human flourishing through
neuroscience and contemplative practice.
Biography
Davidson received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in Psychology in 1976. Davidson’s research is broadly focused on the neural bases of emotion and emotional style and methods to promote human flourishing including meditation and related contemplative practices. He has published over 600 papers, numerous chapters and reviews, and edited over 20 books.
Davidson released his newest book, “Born to Flourish” with Cortland Dahl in March 2026. Davidson and Dahl bring together neuroscience and contemplative science to cultivate well-being and meaning amid the ever-increasing challenges of modern life. The book focuses on small, evidence-based practices while also grappling with the broader societal conditions shaping attention, emotion, and human connection. Davidson is also author with Sharon Begley of "The Emotional Life of Your Brain" published in 2012, and co-author with Daniel Goleman of “Altered Traits” published in 2017.
Davidson was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in 2006. He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2017 and appointed to the Governing Board of UNESCO’s Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) in 2018. In 2014, Davidson founded Humin (formerly Healthy Minds Innovations), a global nonprofit on a mission to make wellbeing real by translating science into action.
