Dr Amir-Homayoun Javadi

Dr Javadi's research focuses on mental health, particularly in young adults, examining the impact of educational factors (such as sense of belonging) and psychosocial components (such as parenting style) on mental health. He employs a range of analytical methods, from conventional statistics to advanced approaches such as machine learning. For computational modelling of mental health, he works with large datasets including the UK Biobank. He also investigates cognitive enhancement in both young and older adults, with a particular emphasis on individuals with brain injuries such as stroke.

Dr Amir-Homayoun Javadi is a Reader (Associate Professor) in Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology at the School of Psychology, University of Kent, UK, and a Visiting Professor at the School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Before joining the University of Kent, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher at University College London (UCL, UK), Dresden University of Technology (Germany) and Humboldt University of Berlin (Germany). 

Key publications

• Crowley, R., Alderman, E., Javadi, A. H., & Tamminen, J. (2024). A systematic and meta-analytic review of the impact of sleep restriction on memory formation. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 167, 105929. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105929
• Pyke, W., Ifram, F., Coventry, L., Sung, Y., Champion, I., & Javadi, A. H. (2020). The effects of different protocols of physical exercise and rest on long-term memory. Neurobiology of learning and memory, 167, 107128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2019.107128 
• Herdson, O., Eerola, T., & Javadi, A. H. (2023). Analysis and classification of music-induced states of sadness. Emotion Review, 15(2), 99-117. https://doi.org/10.1177/17540739221140472
• Zamani, J., Sadr, A., & Javadi, A. H. (2022). Classification of early-MCI patients from healthy controls using evolutionary optimization of graph measures of resting-state fMRI, for the Alzheimer’s disease neuroimaging initiative. PloS one, 17(6), e0267608. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267608 
• Zamani, J., Sadr, A., & Javadi, A. H. (2022). Diagnosis of early mild cognitive impairment using a multiobjective optimization algorithm based on T1-MRI data. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 1020. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-04943-3
• Pyke, W., Lunau, J., & Javadi, A. H. (2024). Does difficulty moderate learning? A comparative analysis of the desirable difficulties framework and cognitive load theory. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 17470218241308143. https://doi.org/10.1177/17470218241308143

Dr Javadi's research focuses on mental health and non-pharmacological approaches to enhancing memory, learning, and decision making. In his mental health research, he employs a wide range of data collection methods, including questionnaires, interviews, and observation. He applies diverse analytical techniques such as structural equation modelling (SEM), latent profile analysis, and predictive models including support vector machines (SVM), random forests, as well as Bayesian and deep learning models.

In his cognitive enhancement research, he uses various intervention methods, such as physical exercise, electrical and magnetic brain stimulation, music, and sleep. He also employs different imaging techniques, including EEG and eye tracking. For data analysis, he applies both classical and Bayesian statistical approaches. 

Professional memberships

• Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) (2009-present)
  
• BritishNeuroscience Association (BNA) (2014-present)
  

Grants and Awards