Ashley Mason, PhD | The Center for Health and Community

Assoc Professor In Residence

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+1 415 514-6820

Ashley Mason, PhD, is an Associate Professor in Residence at the Weill Institute for Neurosciences and the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health. She is a clinical psychologist and directs behavioral treatment for insomnia at the UCSF Osher Center Clinic. She is Director of the UCSF Sleep, Affect, and Eating (SEA) Lab. She is the Co-Director of the UCSF Center for Obesity Assessment, Study, and Treatment (COAST). She is primarily a researcher, but also treats patients for insomnia within the Osher Center Sleep Clinic.

Research Focuses: Learn more at sealab.ucsf.edu
- Non-pharmacologic interventions for mental health disorders
- Thermal treatments (whole-body hyperthermia, contrast therapy) for depression
- Thermoregulatory processes among individuals with depression
- Firefighter Health
- Food cravings and overeating
- Impact of stress on metabolic health and biological aging
- Effects of sugar on body and brain

Clinical Work: Learn more (including insurance coverage) at https://www.sealab.ucsf.edu/oshercentersleep
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
- Offers 5-6 groups focused on sleep problems per year
- Maintains small individual practice for people with sleep problems
- Sees patients over Zoom only
- Medicare covers treatment with Dr. Mason

Publications

Testing the Impact of Intensive, Longitudinal Sampling on Assessments of Statistical Power and Effect Size Within a Heterogeneous Human Population: Natural Experiment Using Change in Heart Rate on Weekends as a Surrogate Intervention.

Journal of medical Internet research

Soltani S, Viswanath VK, Kasl P, Hartogensis W, Dilchert S, Hecht FM, Mason AE, Smarr BL

Sex Differences in the Variability of Physical Activity Measurements Across Multiple Timescales Recorded by a Wearable Device: Observational Retrospective Cohort Study.

Journal of medical Internet research

Varner KJ, Keeler Bruce L, Soltani S, Hartogensis W, Dilchert S, Hecht FM, Chowdhary A, Pandya L, Dasgupta S, Altintas I, Gupta A, Mason AE, Smarr BL

Corrigendum to "The antidepressant effect of whole-body hyperthermia is associated with the classical interleukin-6 signaling pathway" [Brain Behav. Immunity 119 (2024) 801-806].

Brain, behavior, and immunity

Mac Giollabhui N, Lowry CA, Nyer M, Foster SL, Liu RT, Smith DG, Cole SP, Mason AE, Mischoulon D, Raison CL

Development and Validation of a Brief Form of the Anticipated Effects of Food Scale.

Appetite

Cummings JR, Treharne N, Vainik U, Mason AE, Nansel TR, Lipsky LM, Gearhardt AN

Author Correction: General feature selection technique supporting sex-debiasing in chronic illness algorithms validated using wearable device data.

npj Women's Health

Jamison H. Burks, Lauryn Keeler Bruce, Patrick Kasl, Severine Soltani, Varun Viswanath, Wendy Hartogensis, Stephan Dilchert, Frederick M. Hecht, Subhasis Dasgupta, Ilkay Altintas, Amarnath Gupta, Ashley E. Mason, Benjamin L. Smarr

General feature selection technique supporting sex-debiasing in chronic illness algorithms validated using wearable device data.

npj Women's Health

A randomized controlled clinical trial of a Wim Hof Method intervention in women with high depressive symptoms.

Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology

Blades R, Mendes WB, Don BP, Mayer SE, Dileo R, O'Bryan J, Fromer E, Guan JY, Cheng SS, Mason AE, Prather AA, Epel ES

Participant Experiences from a Randomized Controlled Trial of Heated Yoga for Depression.

International journal of yoga therapy

Nyer MB, Ding GA, Norton RJ, Nagaswami MV, Tuchman S, Fisher LB, Hopkins LB, Giollabhui NM, Koontz J, Mason AE, Cusin C, Foster S, Yeung A, Jain FA, Sorensen CEC, Streeter C, Miller KK, Fava M, Uebelacker L, Mischoulon D

Daily social resources as a buffer against stress eating and its consequences.

Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association

Park Y, Don BP, Mason AE, Prather AA, Epel ES

Treating major depressive disorder with an integrated mind-body intervention: Whole-body hyperthermia and cognitive behavioral therapy, a case report.

Advances in Integrative Medicine

Chelsea J. Siwik, Anoushka Chowdhary, Claudine Anglo, Leena Pandya, Stefanie Roberts, Osnat Lupesko-Persky, Patricia Moran, Wendy Hartogensis, Christopher A. Lowry, Charles L. Raison, Rhonda Patrick, Frederick M. Hecht, Ashley E. Mason

Five million nights: temporal dynamics in human sleep phenotypes.

NPJ digital medicine

Viswanath VK, Hartogenesis W, Dilchert S, Pandya L, Hecht FM, Mason AE, Wang EJ, Smarr BL

Information theory reveals physiological manifestations of COVID-19 that correlate with symptom density of illness.

Frontiers in Network Physiology

Ryan JM, Navaneethan S, Damaso N, Dilchert S, Hartogensis W, Natale JL, Hecht FM, Mason AE, Smarr BL

COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects and Long-Term Neutralizing Antibody Response : A Prospective Cohort Study.

Annals of internal medicine

Dutcher EG, Epel ES, Mason AE, Hecht FM, Robinson JE, Drury SS, Prather AA

Feasibility and acceptability of an integrated mind-body intervention for depression: whole-body hyperthermia (WBH) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

International journal of hyperthermia : the official journal of European Society for Hyperthermic Oncology, North American Hyperthermia Group

Mason AE, Chowdhary A, Hartogensis W, Siwik CJ, Lupesko-Persky O, Pandya LS, Roberts S, Anglo C, Moran PJ, Nelson JC, Lowry CA, Patrick RP, Raison CL, Hecht FM

Author Correction: Elevated body temperature is associated with depressive symptoms: results from the TemPredict Study.

Scientific reports

Mason AE, Kasl P, Soltani S, Green A, Hartogensis W, Dilchert S, Chowdhary A, Pandya LS, Siwik CJ, Foster SL, Nyer M, Lowry CA, Raison CL, Hecht FM, Smarr BL

The antidepressant effect of whole-body hyperthermia is associated with the classical interleukin-6 signaling pathway.

Brain, behavior, and immunity

Mac Giollabhui N, Lowry CA, Nyer M, Foster SL, Liu RT, Smith DG, Cole SP, Mason AE, Mischoulon D, Raison CL

Impact of Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation on Consumer Sleep Technology Metrics and Patient Symptoms.

The Laryngoscope

Cai Y, Zheng YJ, Cheng CM, Strohl KP, Mason AE, Chang JL

Utilizing Wearable Device Data for Syndromic Surveillance: A Fever Detection Approach.

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)

Kasl P, Keeler Bruce L, Hartogensis W, Dasgupta S, Pandya LS, Dilchert S, Hecht FM, Gupta A, Altintas I, Mason AE, Smarr BL

Elevated body temperature is associated with depressive symptoms: results from the TemPredict Study.

Scientific reports

Mason AE, Kasl P, Soltani S, Green A, Hartogensis W, Dilchert S, Chowdhary A, Pandya LS, Siwik CJ, Foster SL, Nyer M, Lowry CA, Raison CL, Hecht FM, Smarr BL

Variability of temperature measurements recorded by a wearable device by biological sex.

Biology of sex differences

Bruce LK, Kasl P, Soltani S, Viswanath VK, Hartogensis W, Dilchert S, Hecht FM, Chowdhary A, Anglo C, Pandya L, Dasgupta S, Altintas I, Gupta A, Mason AE, Smarr BL

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Community-Delivered Heated Hatha Yoga for Moderate-to-Severe Depression.

The Journal of clinical psychiatry

Nyer MB, Hopkins LB, Nagaswami M, Norton R, Streeter CC, Hoeppner BB, Sorensen CEC, Uebelacker L, Koontz J, Foster S, Dording C, Giollabhui NM, Yeung A, Fisher LB, Cusin C, Jain FA, Pedrelli P, Ding GA, Mason AE, Cassano P, Mehta DH, Sauder C, Raison CL, Miller KK, Fava M, Mischoulon D

Assessing Adherence to Multi-Modal Oura Ring Wearables From COVID-19 Detection Among Healthcare Workers.

Cureus

Shiba SK, Temple CA, Krasnoff J, Dilchert S, Smarr BL, Robishaw J, Mason AE

Protocol for a randomized controlled trial comparing a very low-carbohydrate diet or moderate-carbohydrate plate-method diet for type 2 diabetes: the LEGEND (Lifestyle Education about Nutrition for Diabetes) trial.

Trials

Saslow LR, Eslamian A, Moran P, Hartogensis W, Mason AE, Kim S, Bauer DC, Griauzde DH, Goldman V, Liu V, Stephens P, Raymond K, Yeung G, Leung C, Hecht FM

Controlled Trial of a Workplace Sales Ban on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages.

Public health nutrition

Schmidt JM, Epel ES, Jacobs LM, Mason AE, Parrett B, Comfort A, Mousli LM, Schmidt LA

Psychological Support Strategies for Adults With Type 2 Diabetes in a Very Low-Carbohydrate Web-Based Program: Randomized Controlled Trial.

JMIR diabetes

Saslow LR, Missel AL, O'Brien A, Kim S, Hecht FM, Moskowitz JT, Bayandorian H, Pietrucha M, Raymond K, Richards B, Liestenfeltz B, Mason AE, Daubenmier J, Aikens JE

Predictors of long-term neutralizing antibody titers following COVID-19 vaccination by three vaccine types: the BOOST study.

Scientific reports

Prather AA, Dutcher EG, Robinson J, Lin J, Blackburn E, Hecht FM, Mason AE, Fromer E, Merino B, Frazier R, O'Bryan J, Drury S, Epel ES

Impact of digital meditation on work stress and health outcomes among adults with overweight: A randomized controlled trial.

PloS one

Radin RM, Epel ES, Mason AE, Vaccaro J, Fromer E, Guan J, Prather AA

Methods for detecting probable COVID-19 cases from large-scale survey data also reveal probable sex differences in symptom profiles.

Frontiers in big data

Klein A, Puldon K, Dilchert S, Hartogensis W, Chowdhary A, Anglo C, Pandya LS, Hecht FM, Mason AE, Smarr BL

Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Weight Loss Intervention on Long-Term Psychological Well-Being Among Adults with Obesity: Secondary Analyses from the Supporting Health by Integrating Nutrition and Exercise (SHINE) Trial.

Mindfulness

Hooker AR, Sagui-Henson SJ, Daubenmier J, Moran PJ, Hartogensis W, Acree M, Kristeller J, Epel ES, Mason AE, Hecht FM

Association of Food Insecurity and Food Addiction Symptoms: A Secondary Analysis of Two Samples of Low-Income Female Adults.

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Parnarouskis L, Gearhardt AN, Mason AE, Adler NE, Laraia BA, Epel ES, Leung CW

Detection of COVID-19 using multimodal data from a wearable device: results from the first TemPredict Study.

Scientific reports

Mason AE, Hecht FM, Davis SK, Natale JL, Hartogensis W, Damaso N, Claypool KT, Dilchert S, Dasgupta S, Purawat S, Viswanath VK, Klein A, Chowdhary A, Fisher SM, Anglo C, Puldon KY, Veasna D, Prather JG, Pandya LS, Fox LM, Busch M, Giordano C, Mercado BK, Song J, Jaimes R, Baum BS, Telfer BA, Philipson CW, Collins PP, Rao AA, Wang EJ, Bandi RH, Choe BJ, Epel ES, Epstein SK, Krasnoff JB, Lee MB, Lee SW, Lopez GM, Mehta A, Melville LD, Moon TS, Mujica-Parodi LR, Noel KM, Orosco MA, Rideout JM, Robishaw JD, Rodriguez RM, Shah KH, Siegal JH, Gupta A, Altintas I, Smarr BL

Metrics from Wearable Devices as Candidate Predictors of Antibody Response Following Vaccination against COVID-19: Data from the Second TemPredict Study.

Vaccines

Mason AE, Kasl P, Hartogensis W, Natale JL, Dilchert S, Dasgupta S, Purawat S, Chowdhary A, Anglo C, Veasna D, Pandya LS, Fox LM, Puldon KY, Prather JG, Gupta A, Altintas I, Smarr BL, Hecht FM

A Brief Motivational Intervention Differentially Reduces Sugar-sweetened Beverage (SSB) Consumption.

Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine

Negative Mood and Food Craving Strength Among Women with Overweight: Implications for Targeting Mechanisms Using a Mindful Eating Intervention.

Mindfulness

Sagui-Henson SJ, Radin RM, Jhaveri K, Brewer JA, Cohn M, Hartogensis W, Mason AE

Longer Leukocyte Telomere Length Predicts Stronger Response to a Workplace Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Sales Ban: An Exploratory Study.

Current developments in nutrition

Wojcicki JM, Lustig RH, Jacobs LM, Mason AE, Hartman A, Leung C, Stanhope K, Lin J, Schmidt LA, Epel ES

A Pilot Study Comparing the Effects of Consuming 100% Orange Juice or Sucrose-Sweetened Beverage on Risk Factors for Cardiometabolic Disease in Women.

Nutrients

Price CA, Medici V, Nunez MV, Lee V, Sigala DM, Benyam Y, Keim NL, Mason AE, Chen SY, Parenti M, Slupsky C, Epel ES, Havel PJ, Stanhope KL

Feasibility and acceptability of a Whole-Body hyperthermia (WBH) protocol.

International journal of hyperthermia : the official journal of European Society for Hyperthermic Oncology, North American Hyperthermia Group

Mason AE, Fisher SM, Chowdhary A, Guvva E, Veasna D, Floyd E, Fender SB, Raison C

Feasibility of continuous fever monitoring using wearable devices.

Scientific reports

Smarr BL, Aschbacher K, Fisher SM, Chowdhary A, Dilchert S, Puldon K, Rao A, Hecht FM, Mason AE

Intervention Enhancement Strategies Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes in a Very Low-Carbohydrate Web-Based Program: Evaluating the Impact With a Randomized Trial.

JMIR diabetes

Saslow LR, Moskowitz JT, Mason AE, Daubenmier J, Liestenfeltz B, Missel AL, Bayandorian H, Aikens JE, Kim S, Hecht FM

Treating binge eating and food addiction symptoms with low-carbohydrate Ketogenic diets: a case series.

Journal of eating disorders

Carmen M, Safer DL, Saslow LR, Kalayjian T, Mason AE, Westman EC, Sethi Dalai S

Association of a Workplace Sales Ban on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages With Employee Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Health.

JAMA internal medicine

Epel ES, Hartman A, Jacobs LM, Leung C, Cohn MA, Jensen L, Ishkanian L, Wojcicki J, Mason AE, Lustig RH, Stanhope KL, Schmidt LA

Do stress eating or compulsive eating influence metabolic health in a mindfulness-based weight loss intervention?

Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association

Radin RM, Epel ES, Daubenmier J, Moran P, Schleicher S, Kristeller J, Hecht FM, Mason AE

Stringency in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) criteria and application in clinical study

Journal of Infertility and Reproductive Biology

Schneider, C., Huddleson, H., Masharani, U., Mason, A.E., & Frassetto, L.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mindfulness-Based Weight Loss Intervention on Cardiovascular Reactivity to Social-Evaluative Threat Among Adults with Obesity.

Mindfulness

Daubenmier J, Epel ES, Moran PJ, Thompson J, Mason AE, Acree M, Goldman V, Kristeller J, Hecht FM, Mendes WB

Lipid findings from the Diabetes Education to Lower Insulin, Sugars, and Hunger (DELISH) Study.

Nutrition & metabolism

Mason AE, Saslow LR, Moran PJ, Kim S, Abousleiman H, Richler R, Schleicher S, Goldman VM, Hartman A, Leung C, Hartogensis W, Hecht FM

Maternal caregivers have confluence of altered cortisol, high reward-driven eating, and worse metabolic health.

PloS one

Radin RM, Mason AE, Laudenslager ML, Epel ES

Sweet cognition: The differential effects of glucose consumption on attentional food bias in individuals of lean and obese status.

Physiology & behavior

Mason AE, Jhaveri K, Schleicher S, Almeida C, Hartman A, Wackerly A, Alba D, Koliwad SK, Epel ES, Aschbacher K

The burden of being poor: Stress at the belly of the matter.

Brain, behavior, and immunity

Mason AE

Examining the Effects of Mindful Eating Training on Adherence to a Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet in Type 2 Diabetes: the DELISH Study Protocol.

JMIR research protocols

Mason AE, Saslow L, Moran PJ, Kim S, Abousleiman H, Hartman A, Richler R, Schleicher S, Hartogensis W, Epel ES, Hecht F

Rapid Assessment of Reward-Related Eating: The RED-X5.

Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)

Vainik U, Eun Han J, Epel ES, Janet Tomiyama A, Dagher A, Mason AE

Stress Resilience: Narrative Identity May Buffer the Longitudinal Effects of Chronic Caregiving Stress on Mental Health and Telomere Shortening.

Brain, behavior, and immunity

Mason AE, Adler JM, Puterman E, Lakmazaheri A, Brucker M, Aschbacher K, Epel ES

Can Mindfulness Address Maladaptive Eating Behaviors? Why Traditional Diet Plans Fail and How New Mechanistic Insights May Lead to Novel Interventions.

Frontiers in psychology

Brewer JA, Ruf A, Beccia AL, Essien GI, Finn LM, van Lutterveld R, Mason AE

Weight loss, weight-loss maintenance, and cellular aging in the Supporting Health through Nutrition and Exercise (SHINE) Study.

Psychosomatic medicine

Mason AE, Hecht FM, Daubenmier JJ, Sbarra DA, Lin J, Moran PJ, Schleicher SG, Acree M, Prather AA, Epel ES

Comfort Eating and All-Cause Mortality in the US Health and Retirement Study.

International journal of behavioral medicine

Cummings JR, Mason AE, Puterman E, Tomiyama AJ

Pathways and mechanisms linking dietary components to cardiometabolic disease: thinking beyond calories.

Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity

Stanhope KL, Goran MI, Bosy-Westphal A, King JC, Schmidt LA, Schwarz JM, Stice E, Sylvetsky AC, Turnbaugh PJ, Bray GA, Gardner CD, Havel PJ, Malik V, Mason AE, Ravussin E, Rosenbaum M, Welsh JA, Allister-Price C, Sigala DM, Greenwood MRC, Astrup A, Krauss RM