Qualifications
Research Interests
I have been trained in cognitive psychology and in neuroscience - primarily focusing on memory suppression, and on using EEG brainwave data to detect criminal knowledge. In addition, I also conduct research in contemplative neuroscience attempting to examine neural signals (EEG) during contemplative practices. Furthermore, I conduct research in human flourishing - trying to unearth predictors of flourishing and wellbeing in religious groups.
I use experimental (behavioural as well as neuroscientific) and observational methods.
Psychology fascinates me a great deal and my lifelong goal is to conduct good science and contribute to open science. Therefore, I am also actively involved in producing and sharing code via GitHub (mainly R, but also MATLAB and Python).
Current projects:
1. A national longitudinal study of Muslim diversity and flourishing (as PI (principal investigator) and postdoctoral research fellow).
2. Controlling unwanted memories: A multisite registered replication of the Think/No-Think effect (As PI).
3. Resting EEG microstates during contemplative practices (As PI).
Recent Publications
- Afzali MU., Jones RD., Seren-Grace AP., Palmer RW., Makarious D., Rodrigues MNB. and Neumann E. (2023) Classification accuracy of the event-related potentials-based Brain Fingerprinting and its robustness to direct-suppression and thought-substitution countermeasures. Applied Cognitive Psychology http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/acp.4050.
- Shanaah S., Yogeeswaran K., Greaves L., Bulbulia JA., Osborne D., Afzali MU. and Sibley CG. (2023) Hate Begets Warmth? The Impact of an Anti-Muslim Terrorist Attack on Public Attitudes toward Muslims. Terrorism and Political Violence 35(1): 156-174. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2021.1877673.
- Byrne KG., Yogeeswaran K., Dorahy MJ., Gale J., Afzali MU., Bulbulia J. and Sibley CG. (2022) Psychological impact of far-right terrorism against Muslim minorities on national distress, community, and wellbeing. Scientific Reports 12(1) http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-05678-x.
- Afzali U., Palmer R., Neumann E., Seren-Grace A., Makarios S., Wilson D. and Jones R. (2021) Detection of concealed knowledge via the ERP-based technique Brain Fingerprinting: Real-crime scenarios. Brisbane: Australasian Experimental Psychology Society, 7 Apr 2021.
- Rucklidge JJ., Afzali MU., Kaplan BJ., Bhattacharya O., Blampied FM., Mulder RT. and Blampied NM. (2021) Massacre, Earthquake, Flood: Translational Science Evidence That the Use of Micronutrients Postdisaster Reduces the Risk of Post-Traumatic Stress in Survivors of Disasters. International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation 10(1): 39-54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/2157-3891/a000003.