UC Research Profile - University of Canterbury

Dr Usman Afzali

Contact

Department: School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing

Email: usman.afzali@canterbury.ac.nz

Direct Dial: +64 3 3691367

Office:

Languages: English, Farsi, Hindi, Pashto, Urdu

About

Research / Creative works

Methods & Equipment

Fields of Research

Human Flourishing
Contemplative Neuroscience
Cognitive Psychology: memory suppression
Forensic Neuroscience

Researcher Summary

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).

Subject Area: Disciplines

Psychology: Behavioural Science ; Cognitive Psychology ; Neuroscience

Resources

Research/Scholarly/Creative Works

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. (Journal Articles)

Bulbulia JA., Afzali MU., Yogeeswaran K. and Sibley CG. (2023) Long-term causal effects of far-right terrorism in New Zealand.. PNAS Nexus 2(8): pgad242. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad242. (Journal Articles)

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. (Journal Articles)

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. (Journal Articles)

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. (Conference Contributions - Other)

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. (Journal Articles)

Afzali U., Viviana Cedeño Bustos J. and Kemp S. (2020) Perception of financial satisfaction and its implications for free first-year education in New Zealand university students. New Zealand Journal of Psychology 49(2): 4-14. (Journal Articles)

Blampied NM., Mulder RT., Usman Afzali M., Bhattacharya O., Blampied M. and Rucklidge JJ. (2020) Disasters, policies and micronutrients: The intersect among ethics, evidence and effective action. New Zealand Medical Journal 133(1508): 8-11. (Journal Articles)

Sibley CG., Usman Afzali M., Satherley N., Ejova A., Stronge S., Yogeeswaran K., Grimshaw M., Hawi D., Mirnajafi Z. and Barlow FK. (2020) Prejudice toward Muslims in New Zealand: Insights from the New Zealand attitudes and values study. New Zealand Journal of Psychology 49(1): 48-72. (Journal Articles)

Yogeeswaran K., Afzali U., Andrews N., Chivers E., Wang M-J., Devos T. and Sibley C. (2019) Exploring New Zealand national identity and its importance for attitudes toward Muslims and diversity. New Zealand Journal of Psychology 48(1): 29-35. (Journal Articles)

Key Methodologies

Experimental psychology
Longitudinal research
EEG/ERP, MoBI (Mobile brain/body imaging)
Causal modelling
Programming (R, MATLAB)
Open science with Quarto