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  1. Ansatte

Språkvelger

English

Maryam Ziaei

Last ned pressefoto
Last ned pressefoto
Foto:

Maryam Ziaei

Associate professor
Kavliinstitutt for nevrovitenskap
Fakultet for medisin og helsevitenskap
Institutt for språk og litteratur

maryam.ziaei@ntnu.no
Øya, Olav Kyrres gate 9
Twitter
Om Forskning Publikasjoner Undervisning Formidling

Om

CV

Kompetanseord

  • Affective neuroscience
  • Aging
  • Experimental design
  • Neuroimaging

Forskning

What do we know?

We normally talk about aging concerning cognitive decline and so-called “deficits” in cognitive aspects or slowness in physical processes. While we observe slowing and deterioration in physical and cognitive domains, this is not the whole story of aging. Research has shown that emotional processes stay the same or even improve with age. This phenomenon is known as the “positivity effect” which posits that older adults’ motivational shift helps them to focus on positive emotions and prioritize information that is relevant to their goals.

We have shown that older adults show a preference for positive, over negative, items related to the engagement of a different brain network known as the cognitive control network (Neuropsychologia, 2016). In other words, older adults can control their negative emotions better than younger adults. Importantly, such a shift in preference for different emotions has consequences for older adults’ social communications. Older adults’ preference for emotional items impacts their empathic response toward others (Neuropsychologia, 2019) and their ability to understand others’ mental states (Neurobiology of Aging, 2016)! So now the question is: what are the predictors explaining whether individuals show attentional biases toward positive emotions in older age?

Key questions:

  • What are the age-related neural correlates underlying individual responses towards social and emotional cues in the environment?
  • How do neural correlates of emotional and social processes contribute to mental health in healthy and clinical aging?

Tools

  • functional magnetic resonance imaging using 3T and 7T
  • Volumetric analysis of cortical and subcortical areas
  • White matter tractography
  • Eye-tracking
  • Physiological response recording 
  • Personal website
  • Public report on Trondheim Aging Brain Study
  • Aging Brain Study website

Master / PhD projects

Detecting brain disorders using deep neural networks, resting state fMRI, and structural MRI

PhD project

Predicting psychopathology using a combination of physiological, fMRI, cognitive and self-report measures.

PhD Project

Uncertainty processing and activation of the basolateral amygdala in healthy aging

Master / PhD project

The role of cortical-subcortical brain connectivity during ambiguity processing and change with age

Participate in our study!

Participate in our study to help us better understand emotional well-being during aging!

Publikasjoner

Ziaei, M., Bonyadi, M.R. & Reutens, D.C. Age-related differences in structural and functional prefrontal networks during a logical reasoning task,

We examined structural and functional profiles of logical reasoning in healthy aging in this project

Ziaei, M., Persson, J., Bonyadi, M.R., Reutens, D.C. & Ebner, N.C. (2019) Amygdala functional network during recognition of own-age vs. other-age faces in younger and older adults.

Amygdala network is differentially activated in response to facial cues

Ziaei, M., Salami, A.R. & Persson, J. (2017). Age-related alterations in functional connectivity patterns during working memory encoding of emotional items

Older adults process negative emotions differently than younger adults, using a more regulatory network

Ziaei. M., Burianová, H., von Hippel, W., Ebner, N., Phillips, L.H. & Henry, J.D. (2016), The impact of aging on the neural correlates involved in gaze and emotional processing

Facial cues are processed differently depending on the emotional valence among younger and older adults

Peer-Reviewed Publications (Selected)

  • Ziaei, M., Bonyadi, M.R. & Reutens, D.C. Age-related differences in structural and functional prefrontal networks during a logical reasoning task, Brain Imaging and Behavior, DOI: 10.1007/s11682-020-00315-5
  • Shaw, T., York, A., Ziaei, M., Barth, M. & Bollmann, S. Longitudinal Automatic Segmentation of Hippocampal Subfields (LASHiS) using Multi-Contrast MRI, Neuroimage, 218, 116798.
  • Ziaei, M., Bonyadi, M.R. & Reutens, D.C. Role of the hippocampus in logical reasoning and belief bias in aging, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 12:111 
  • Ziaei, M., Persson, J., Bonyadi, M.R., Reutens, D.C. & Ebner, N.C. (2019) Amygdala functional network during recognition of own-age vs. other-age faces in younger and older adults. Neuropsychologia, 129, 10-20.
  • Horta, M., Ziaei, M., Lin, T., Porges, E.C., Fischer, H., Feifel, D., Spreng, N., and Ebner, N.C. (2019). Oxytocin alters patterns of brain activity and amygdalar connectivity by age during dynamic facial emotion identification, Neurobiology of Aging, 78, 42-51.
  • Ziaei, M., Samrani, G. & Persson, J. (2018). Age differences in the neural response to emotional distraction during working memory encoding, Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Neuroscience, 18, 869–883.
  • Ziaei, M., Salami, A.R. & Persson, J. (2017). Age-related alterations in functional connectivity patterns during working memory encoding of emotional items, Neuropsychologia, 94, 941-12.
  • Ziaei. M., Ebner, N.C. & Burianová, H. (2016). A multivariate analysis of brain networks involved in gaze and emotional processing, European Journal of Neuroscience, 45, 2: 312-320.
  • Ziaei. M., Burianová, H., von Hippel, W., Ebner, N., Phillips, L.H. & Henry, J.D. (2016), The impact of aging on the neural correlates involved in gaze and emotional processing, Neurobiology of Aging, 48, 182-194.
  • Peira, N., Ziaei, M. & Persson, J. (2015), Age differences in brain systems supporting transient and sustained processes involved in prospective memory and working memory. NeuroImage, 125, 745-755.
  • Ziaei, M., von Hippel, W., Henry, J.D., Becker, S.I. (2015), Are age effects in positivity influenced by the valence of distractors? PLOS one, 10(9): e0137604.
  • Ziaei, M., Peira, N. & Persson, J. (2014), Brain systems underlying attentional control and emotional distraction during working memory encoding, NeuroImage, 87, 276-286

 

Invited Book Chapter

Ziaei, M. & Fischer, H. (February 2016), Emotion and Aging: The impact of emotion on attention, memory, and face recognition in late adulthood. In J. R. Absher & J. Cloutier (Eds.), Neuroimaging Personality Neuroimaging Personality, Social Cognition, and Character. Elsevier.

  • Kronologisk
  • Etter kategori
  • Se alle publikasjoner i Cristin

2025

  • Hong, Jae S.; Bätz, Leona Rahel; Ye, Shuer; Reutens, David C.; Ebner, Natalie C.; Ziaei, Maryam. (2025) Similar neural networks for anger and pride in older adults. Neuropsychologia
    Vitenskapelig artikkel

2024

  • Shoenfelt, Alayna; Pehlivanoglu, Didem; Lin, Tian; Ziaei, Maryam; Feifel, David; Ebner, Natalie C.. (2024) Effects of chronic intranasal oxytocin on visual attention to faces vs. natural scenes in older adults. Psychoneuroendocrinology
    Vitenskapelig artikkel

2023

  • Bonyadi, Mohammad Reza; Wang, Rui; Ziaei, Maryam. (2023) Self-Punishment and Reward Backfill for Deep Q-Learning. IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems
    Vitenskapelig artikkel

2022

  • Haugen, Randi Wenche; Whitlock, Jonathan Robert; Ziaei, Maryam. (2022) NTNU Evening: Presentation of the Kavli Prizes awarded in Neuroscience 2020 and 2022. NTNU Evening: Presentation of the Kavli Prizes awarded in Neuroscience 2020 and 2022
    Annen presentasjon
  • Huuha, Aleksi Matias; Norevik, Cecilie Skarstad; Moreira, Jose Bianco Nascimento; Kobro-Flatmoen, Asgeir; Scrimgeour, Nathan Robert; Kivipelto, Miia. (2022) Can exercise training teach us how to treat Alzheimer's disease?. Ageing Research Reviews
    Vitenskapelig oversiktsartikkel/review
  • Tari, Atefe R; Selbæk, Geir; Franklin, Barry A.; Bergh, Sverre; Skjellegrind, Håvard; Sallis, Robert E.. (2022) Temporal changes in personal activity intelligence and the risk of incident dementia and dementia related mortality: A prospective cohort study (HUNT). EClinicalMedicine
    Vitenskapelig artikkel
  • Lin, Tian; Pehlivanoglu, Didem; Ziaei, Maryam; Liu, Peiwei; Woods, Adam J.; Feifel, David. (2022) Age-Related Differences in Amygdala Activation Associated With Face Trustworthiness but No Evidence of Oxytocin Modulation. Frontiers in Psychology
    Vitenskapelig artikkel
  • Ziaei, Maryam; Arnold, Charlotte; Thompson, Kate; Reutens, David C.. (2022) Social Cognition in Temporal and Frontal Lobe Epilepsy: Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Clinical Recommendations. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
    Vitenskapelig oversiktsartikkel/review
  • Ziaei, Maryam; Oestreich, Lena; Persson, Jonas; Reutens, David C.; Ebner, Natalie C.. (2022) Neural correlates of affective empathy in aging: A multimodal imaging and multivariate approach: Abbreviated title: Multimodal and multivariate approach to empathy. Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition
    Vitenskapelig artikkel

2021

  • Ziaei, Maryam; Oestreich, Lena; Reutens, David C.; Ebner, Natalie C.. (2021) Age-related differences in negative cognitive empathy but similarities in positive affective empathy. Brain Structure and Function
    Vitenskapelig artikkel

Tidsskriftspublikasjoner

  • Hong, Jae S.; Bätz, Leona Rahel; Ye, Shuer; Reutens, David C.; Ebner, Natalie C.; Ziaei, Maryam. (2025) Similar neural networks for anger and pride in older adults. Neuropsychologia
    Vitenskapelig artikkel
  • Shoenfelt, Alayna; Pehlivanoglu, Didem; Lin, Tian; Ziaei, Maryam; Feifel, David; Ebner, Natalie C.. (2024) Effects of chronic intranasal oxytocin on visual attention to faces vs. natural scenes in older adults. Psychoneuroendocrinology
    Vitenskapelig artikkel
  • Bonyadi, Mohammad Reza; Wang, Rui; Ziaei, Maryam. (2023) Self-Punishment and Reward Backfill for Deep Q-Learning. IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems
    Vitenskapelig artikkel
  • Huuha, Aleksi Matias; Norevik, Cecilie Skarstad; Moreira, Jose Bianco Nascimento; Kobro-Flatmoen, Asgeir; Scrimgeour, Nathan Robert; Kivipelto, Miia. (2022) Can exercise training teach us how to treat Alzheimer's disease?. Ageing Research Reviews
    Vitenskapelig oversiktsartikkel/review
  • Tari, Atefe R; Selbæk, Geir; Franklin, Barry A.; Bergh, Sverre; Skjellegrind, Håvard; Sallis, Robert E.. (2022) Temporal changes in personal activity intelligence and the risk of incident dementia and dementia related mortality: A prospective cohort study (HUNT). EClinicalMedicine
    Vitenskapelig artikkel
  • Lin, Tian; Pehlivanoglu, Didem; Ziaei, Maryam; Liu, Peiwei; Woods, Adam J.; Feifel, David. (2022) Age-Related Differences in Amygdala Activation Associated With Face Trustworthiness but No Evidence of Oxytocin Modulation. Frontiers in Psychology
    Vitenskapelig artikkel
  • Ziaei, Maryam; Arnold, Charlotte; Thompson, Kate; Reutens, David C.. (2022) Social Cognition in Temporal and Frontal Lobe Epilepsy: Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Clinical Recommendations. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
    Vitenskapelig oversiktsartikkel/review
  • Ziaei, Maryam; Oestreich, Lena; Persson, Jonas; Reutens, David C.; Ebner, Natalie C.. (2022) Neural correlates of affective empathy in aging: A multimodal imaging and multivariate approach: Abbreviated title: Multimodal and multivariate approach to empathy. Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition
    Vitenskapelig artikkel
  • Ziaei, Maryam; Oestreich, Lena; Reutens, David C.; Ebner, Natalie C.. (2021) Age-related differences in negative cognitive empathy but similarities in positive affective empathy. Brain Structure and Function
    Vitenskapelig artikkel

UTSTILLING

  • Haugen, Randi Wenche; Whitlock, Jonathan Robert; Ziaei, Maryam. (2022) NTNU Evening: Presentation of the Kavli Prizes awarded in Neuroscience 2020 and 2022. NTNU Evening: Presentation of the Kavli Prizes awarded in Neuroscience 2020 and 2022
    Annen presentasjon

Undervisning

Emner

  • NEVR3003 - Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience
  • NEVR3901 - Thesis in Neuroscience

Formidling

Report

Completion of Trondheim Aging Brain Study! Check out our report!

Research participation!

Join our research and contribute to science! We are not able to understand the brain without your help and your contribution!

Panel Discussion - World Science Festival (2018)

I have been invited to a panel discussion with the world-known physicist and founder of the World Science Festival, Prof. Brian Greene, to discuss neural mechanisms underpinning belief and how that might be related to different behaviours.

Documentary Memory Matters (2018)

We presented a task to measure memory while the moderator of the episode (shown below) while she went through brain imaging herself and shared her experience in the episode afterwards. This was aired on national TV in Australia on ABC catalyst.

Public talk - Pint of Science (2018)

I participated in the Pint of Science where we had a presentation in a local pub and discussed scientific evidence for how to keep our brain healthy

Brain health course (2021)

I have created a course on brain and mental health in which I discuss the 7 pillars of brain health and provide easy, evidence-based, practical tips on how to improve brain health.

Public talk - Brain health in aging (2022)

My first public engagement was for the library as part of the public lecture for the Royal Norwegian Society for Sciences and Letters.

NTNU Researchers' night (2022)

I had a presentation for high school students as part of the Researchers’ night where I presented how emotions are made in the brain.

Public talk - Kavli prize week (2022)

As part of the Kavli prize week, I presented the work of four Kavli Prize Laureates of 2022, Prof. Huda Zoghbi, Prof. Christopher Walsh, Prof. Jean-Louis Mandel, and Prof. Harry Orr at the Dokkhuset.

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