The Dr. Jud Podcast

Practical Awareness-Based Strategies for Eating (PASE): A Pilot and Feasibility Randomized Trial examines the effectiveness of a mobile mindfulness-based intervention, Eat Right Now (ERN), targeting reward-related eating to promote weight loss. This episode delves into the groundbreaking findings of Dr. Judson Brewer and his collaborators, who conducted a six-month randomized trial on adults with a BMI ≥25 kg/m². The study highlights the feasibility of ERN, both with and without asynchronous coaching, as a scalable intervention for improving eating behaviors and achieving moderate weight loss. Tune in as we explore how mindfulness can recalibrate food rewards, disrupt maladaptive eating habits, and foster long-term health behavior changes.

Reference:
Arterburn D, Garcia R, Rosenberg D, Johnson E, Mettert K, Ng J, Brewer J. Practical Awareness-Based Strategies for Eating (PASE): A Pilot and Feasibility Randomized Trial. [Details from publication].

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Effortless Awareness: Using Real-Time Neurofeedback to Investigate Correlates of Posterior Cingulate Cortex Activity in Meditators' Self-Report explores how real-time fMRI neurofeedback can link meditation experience to brain activity. In this episode, Dr. Jud Brewer and his collaborators discuss their groundbreaking study, which analyzed first-person reports of experienced meditators and real-time feedback of posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) activity. The study reveals how “effortless awareness” and “undistracted attention” correlate with PCC deactivation, while “efforting” and “distraction” activate the region. These findings provide fresh insights into the neuroscience of mindfulness, self-referential processing, and how meditation can train the brain towards a state of effortless presence.

Reference:
Garrison KA, Santoyo JF, Davis JH, Thornhill TA IV, Kerr CE, Brewer JA. Effortless Awareness: Using Real-Time Neurofeedback to Investigate Correlates of Posterior Cingulate Cortex Activity in Meditators' Self-Report. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2013;7:440. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2013.00440

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Analyzing the Impact of Mobile App Engagement on Mental Health Outcomes: Secondary Analysis of the Unwinding Anxiety Program

In this episode, Dr. Jud Brewer and colleagues explore how engagement with specific app features impacts mental health outcomes in the context of anxiety treatment. Through secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial, the study demonstrates that higher engagement with the Unwinding Anxiety app’s educational modules, meditations, and ecological tools significantly improves anxiety, worry, interoceptive awareness, and emotional regulation. Discover how microlevel engagement with app features translates to macrolevel health benefits, providing actionable insights into designing effective and scalable digital interventions for anxiety and mental health.

Full Reference:
Nardi, W., Roy, A., Dunsiger, S., & Brewer, J. A. (2022). Analyzing the impact of mobile app engagement on mental health outcomes: Secondary analysis of the Unwinding Anxiety program. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24(8), e33696. https://doi.org/10.2196/33696

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Associations of Dispositional Mindfulness with Obesity and Central Adiposity: The New England Family Study

In this episode, Dr. Jud Brewer and colleagues examine how dispositional mindfulness—the ability to nonjudgmentally attend to one’s mental and physical experiences—relates to obesity and central adiposity. Drawing on findings from the New England Family Study, they explore associations between mindfulness levels and body composition, including android fat mass and android/gynoid fat mass ratio. Discover how mindfulness might influence long-term self-regulation and lifestyle choices, potentially offering a novel pathway for obesity prevention and intervention. This research highlights the importance of integrating psychological and behavioral insights into public health strategies for addressing obesity.

Full Reference:
Loucks, E. B., Britton, W. B., Howe, C. J., Gutman, R., Gilman, S. E., Brewer, J. A., & Eaton, C. B. (2015). Associations of dispositional mindfulness with obesity and central adiposity: The New England Family Study. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-015-9513-z

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What About the "Self" Is Processed in the Posterior Cingulate Cortex? investigates the role of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) in self-referential processing. This fascinating study by Dr. Jud Brewer, Kathleen Garrison, and Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli explores how the PCC is activated during experiences of being "caught up in" mental content, such as self-judgment, social cognitive processing, attention lapses, and cravings. Conversely, PCC deactivation correlates with present-centered awareness and mindfulness. Join us as we unravel the implications of these findings for understanding self-related experiences, meditation, and their potential therapeutic applications.

Reference:
Brewer JA, Garrison KA, Whitfield-Gabrieli S. What about the "self" is processed in the posterior cingulate cortex? Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2013;7:647. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2013.00647

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Cluster-Based Psychological Phenotyping and Differences in Anxiety Treatment Outcomes

In this episode, Dr. Jud Brewer and colleagues explore how machine learning and psychological phenotyping can optimize treatment for anxiety disorders. Through a groundbreaking study involving app-based mindfulness training, participants were grouped into three psychological phenotypes: "severely anxious with body/emotional awareness," "body/emotionally unaware," and "non-reactive and aware." The study demonstrates how cluster membership significantly influences treatment outcomes, with two phenotypes showing marked improvements in anxiety symptoms. This research sets the stage for personalized medicine in mental health, offering low-cost, scalable solutions to match individuals with tailored interventions for better results.

Full Reference:
Taylor, V. A., Roy, A., & Brewer, J. A. (2023). Cluster-based psychological phenotyping and differences in anxiety treatment outcomes. Scientific Reports, 13, 3055. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28660-7

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Women’s Experiences with a Mindful Eating Program for Binge and Emotional Eating: A Qualitative Investigation into the Process of Change

In this episode, Dr. Jud Brewer and colleagues unpack the transformative power of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in addressing binge and emotional eating. Drawing on a qualitative study, they explore how mindfulness fosters attitudinal and behavioral changes through self-awareness, self-empowerment, mindful choice-making, and resilient self-care. This research emphasizes how mindful eating shifts participants from negative to positive embodiment, enabling unforced, intuitive choices around food and self-care. Learn how these insights pave the way for community-based solutions that focus on health and well-being over weight control.

Full Reference:
Beccia, A. L., Ruf, A., Druker, S., Ludwig, V. U., & Brewer, J. A. (2020). Women’s experiences with a mindful eating program for binge and emotional eating: A qualitative investigation into the process of change. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 26(10), 937–944. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2019.0318

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"Why Is It So Hard to Pay Attention, or Is It? Mindfulness, the Factors of Awakening and Reward-Based Learning" dives into the intricate connections between mindfulness, attention, and habit formation. Dr. Jud Brewer, alongside co-authors Jake H. Davis and Joseph Goldstein, explores how reward-based learning shapes our ability to pay attention and sustain mindfulness practice. This episode unpacks the seven factors of awakening, discusses the pitfalls of craving and aversion, and provides actionable insights into how mindfulness can rewire the brain for lasting joy and equanimity. Discover how present-moment awareness can disrupt unhelpful cycles and foster personal transformation. Don't miss this deep dive into the neuroscience of mindfulness and the practical wisdom of ancient teachings.

Full Reference:
Brewer, J. A., Davis, J. H., & Goldstein, J. (2013). Why Is It So Hard to Pay Attention, or Is It? Mindfulness, the Factors of Awakening and Reward-Based Learning. Mindfulness, 4(1), 75-80. DOI: 10.1007/s12671-012-0164-8

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Targeting Anxiety to Improve Sleep Disturbance: A Randomized Clinical Trial of App-Based Mindfulness Training

In this episode, Dr. Jud Brewer and colleagues discuss a novel randomized clinical trial examining the impact of the Unwinding Anxiety app on improving sleep disturbances caused by anxiety and worry. The study demonstrates that app-based mindfulness training significantly reduces worry-related sleep disturbances (WRSDs), with a 27% reduction after two months of use. By increasing emotional nonreactivity and breaking worry cycles, participants also experienced meaningful improvements in anxiety and overall sleep quality. The conversation highlights how app-based mindfulness interventions can provide scalable, accessible solutions for addressing widespread sleep and anxiety issues.

Full Reference:
Gao, M., Roy, A., Deluty, A., Sharkey, K. M., Hoge, E. A., Liu, T., & Brewer, J. A. (2022). Targeting anxiety to improve sleep disturbance: A randomized clinical trial of app-based mindfulness training. Psychosomatic Medicine, 84(6), 632-642. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001083

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Testing a Mobile Mindful Eating Intervention Targeting Craving-Related Eating: Feasibility and Proof of Concept

In this episode, Dr. Jud Brewer and colleagues discuss the results of a groundbreaking study testing a smartphone-based mindful eating intervention. Designed to target craving-related eating through mindfulness and operant conditioning principles, the intervention demonstrated significant reductions in food cravings, emotional eating, and overeating among overweight and obese women. Dr. Brewer explores how this scalable, low-burden approach leverages awareness to disrupt habitual eating patterns, reduce cravings, and support sustainable weight management. Tune in to learn how mobile mindfulness tools can reshape eating behaviors and promote healthier relationships with food.

Full Reference:
Mason, A. E., Jhaveri, K., Cohn, M., & Brewer, J. A. (2017). Testing a mobile mindful eating intervention targeting craving-related eating: Feasibility and proof of concept. Journal of Behavioral Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-017-9884-5

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