Biography summary
My research currently focuses on unravelling the neurobehavioural underpinnings of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using advanced neuroscience technologies, such as Non-invasive Brain Stimulation (NIBS) and EEG techniques at Deakin University. I have expertise in cognitive and clinical phenotyping of ASD and Substance Use Disorders, and experience conducting developmental studies and large-scale assessment studies in this population.
Career highlights
EMPLOYMENT & EDUCATION
2014 – present Research Fellow of Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience), Deakin University
2013 – 2014 Research Assistant, Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Children’s Hospital, University of Melbourne
2009 – 2012 PhD Neuropsychology, University of Granada
Thesis: Neuroimaging and genetics of the comorbidity between addiction and personality disorders
Classification: Summa Cum Laude; Best thesis in Health Sciences
2009 Diploma of Education, University of Granada
2008-2009 Psychologist Therapist, Main Centre of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Granada
I was involved in assessment and application of behavioural guidelines to children with ASD and their parents
2007-2009 Psychologist, Child Psychology Unit, General Hospital of Alicante (Spain)
2007-2009 International Master in Clinical Psychology, Spanish Association of Behavioural Psychology
Master thesis: Cognitive impairments in very low birth children
2007 Master in Health Psychology, University Miguel Hernandez
2002-2007 BAppSc (Hons), Psychology, University of Miguel Hernandez
Research interests
Cognitive neuroscience, emotional regulation, executive functions, non-invasive brain stimulation, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), substance use disorder (SUD).
Knowledge areas
Cognitive neuroscience, emotional regulation,executive functions, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), fMRI, EEG, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), substance use disorder (SUD).
Awards
FUNDING, AWARDS AND PRIZES
- Best Thesis Prize in Health Sciences, University of Granada (2016) - $500
- Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship, Deakin University (2015-2017) - $187,458
- Research Development Grant, Deakin University (2014) - $18,000
- First Prize for Best Poster, European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Conference (2018) -$800
- First Prize for Best Oral Presentation, “Histrionic Personality Disorder, Cocaine Dependence and ADHD”, International Congress on Dual Disorders: Addictive Behaviors and other Mental Disorders (2011) - $900
Projects
Current projects
As primary investigator:
- A clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) to improve emotional regulation and cognitive flexibility in young people with autism spectrum disorder
- Neural correlates of emotion regulation: A HD-tDCS study
- Inner speech and autism spectrum disorder traits
As an associate investigator:
- Theta burst stimulation (TBS) to improve social relating in autism spectrum disorder
- An investigation of the Role of the Frontoparietal Action Observation Network in Empathy
- The role of context and motor preparatory neural markers in motor resonance
Publications
Brain networks alterations in cocaine use and gambling disorders during emotion regulation
M Picó-Pérez, V Costumero, J Verdejo-Román, N Albein-Urios, J Martínez-González, C Soriano-Mas, A Barrós-Loscertales, A Verdejo-Garcia
(2022), Vol. 11, pp. 373-385, Journal of Behavioral Addictions, Hungary, C1
Is the Putative Mirror Neuron System Associated with Empathy? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
S Bekkali, G Youssef, P Donaldson, N Albein-Urios, C Hyde, P Enticott
(2021), Vol. 31, pp. 14-57, Neuropsychology Review, United States, C1
Inner Speech Moderates the Relationship Between Autism Spectrum Traits and Emotion Regulation
N Albein-Urios, G Youssef, A Klas, P Enticott
(2021), Vol. 51, pp. 3322-3330, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, United States, C1
A Verdejo-Garcia, N Albein-Urios
(2021), Vol. 183, Neuropharmacology, England, C1
Meta-Analysis Reveals Gait Anomalies in Autism
J Lum, K Shandley, N Albein-Urios, M Kirkovski, N Papadopoulos, R Wilson, P Enticott, N Rinehart
(2021), Vol. 14, pp. 733-747, Autism Research, United States, C1
C Roberts, V Lorenzetti, N Albein-Urios, M Kowalczyk, J Martinez-Gonzalez, A Verdejo-Garcia
(2021), Vol. 110, Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, England, C1
Large-scale analysis of interindividual variability in single and paired-pulse TMS data
D Corp, H Bereznicki, G Clark, G Youssef, P Fried, A Jannati, C Davies, J Gomes-Osman, M Kirkovski, N Albein-Urios, P Fitzgerald, G Koch, V Di Lazzaro, A Pascual-Leone, P Enticott
(2021), Vol. 132, pp. 2639-2653, Clinical Neurophysiology, Netherlands, C1
P Enticott, K Barlow, A Guastella, M Licari, N Rogasch, C Middeldorp, S Clark, A Vallence, K Boulton, I Hickie, A Whitehouse, C Galletly, G Alvares, H Fujiyama, H Heussler, J Craig, M Kirkovski, N Mills, N Rinehart, P Donaldson, T Ford, K Caeyenberghs, N Albein-Urios, S Bekkali, P Fitzgerald
(2021), Vol. 11, BMJ Open, England, C1
O Contreras-Rodríguez, N Albein-Urios, J Martinez-Gonzalez, J Menchón, C Soriano-Mas, A Verdejo-García
(2020), Vol. 208, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Ireland, C1
J Plumridge, M Barham, D Foley, A Ware, G Clark, N Albein-Urios, M Hayden, J Lum
(2020), Vol. 14, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Switzerland, C1
P Irizar, N Albein-Urios, J Martínez-González, A Verdejo-Garcia, V Lorenzetti
(2020), Vol. 33, pp. 81-88, European Neuropsychopharmacology, Netherlands, C1
Self-awareness deficits associated with lower treatment motivation in cocaine addiction
B Castine, N Albein-Urios, O Lozano-Rojas, J Martinez-Gonzalez, J Hohwy, A Verdejo-Garcia
(2019), Vol. 45, pp. 108-114, American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, England, C1
Neuropsychological Interventions for Decision-Making in Addiction: a Systematic Review
A Verdejo-García, M Alcázar-Córcoles, N Albein-Urios
(2019), Vol. 29, pp. 79-92, Neuropsychology Review, United States, C1
N Albein-Urios, H Chase, L Clark, M Kirkovski, C Davies, P Enticott
(2019), Vol. 12, pp. 959-966, Brain Stimulation, United States, C1
N Albein-Urios, J Martinez-Gonzalez, O Lozano-Rojas, A Verdejo-Garcia
(2019), Vol. 10, Frontiers in Psychiatry, Switzerland, C1
N Albein-Urios, G Youssef, M Kirkovski, P Enticott
(2018), Vol. 48, pp. 2506-2515, Journal of autism and developmental disorders, New York, N.Y., C1
A Verdejo-Garcia, J Verdejo-Román, N Albein-Urios, J Martínez-González, C Soriano-Mas
(2017), Vol. 22, pp. 457-467, Addiction Biology, United States, C1
L Fernandez, N Albein-Urios, M Kirkovski, J McGinley, A Murphy, C Hyde, M Stokes, N Rinehart, P Enticott
(2017), Vol. 16, pp. 168-177, Cerebellum, New York, N.Y., C1
L Moreno-López, N Albein-Urios, J Martínez-González, C Soriano-Mas, A Verdejo-García
(2017), Vol. 22, pp. 1438-1448, Addiction Biology, United States, C1
Trait and neurobiological underpinnings of negative emotion regulation in gambling disorder
J Navas, O Contreras-Rodríguez, J Verdejo-Román, A Perandrés-Gómez, N Albein-Urios, A Verdejo-García, J Perales
(2017), Vol. 112, pp. 1086-1094, Addiction, England, C1
Overall prognosis of preschool autism spectrum disorder diagnoses
A Brignell, N Albein-Urios, S Woolfenden, A Hayen, A Iorio, K Williams
(2017), Vol. 2017, Cochrane database of systematic reviews, Chichester, Eng., C1
A Goodwill, J Lum, A Hendy, M Muthalib, L Johnson, N Albein-Urios, W Teo
(2017), Vol. 7, Scientific Reports, England, C1
F López-Torrecillas, E López-Quirantes, A Maldonado, N Albein-Urios, M Rueda, A Verdejo-Garcia
(2017), Vol. 12, PLoS ONE, United States, C1
Diagnosing autism: Australian paediatric research network surveys
M Randall, N Albein-Urios, A Brignell, A Gulenc, S Hennel, C Coates, C Symeonides, H Hiscock, C Marraffa, N Silove, V Bayl, S Woolfenden, K Williams
(2016), Vol. 52, pp. 11-17, Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, Australia, C1
O Contreras-Rodríguez, N Albein-Urios, R Vilar-López, J Perales, J Martínez-Gonzalez, M Fernández-Serrano, O Lozano-Rojas, L Clark, A Verdejo-García
(2016), Vol. 21, pp. 709-718, Addiction Biology, United States, C1
L Moreno-López, J Perales, D van Son, N Albein-Urios, C Soriano-Mas, J Martinez-Gonzalez, R Wiers, A Verdejo-García
(2015), Vol. 20, pp. 546-556, Addiction biology, Chichester, Eng., C1-1
O Contreras-Rodríguez, N Albein-Urios, J Perales, J Martínez-Gonzalez, R Vilar-López, M Fernández-Serrano, O Lozano-Rojas, A Verdejo-García
(2015), Vol. 110, pp. 1953-1962, Addiction, London, Eng., C1
Neural substrates of cognitive flexibility in cocaine and gambling addictions
A Verdejo-Garcia, L Clark, J Verdejo-Román, N Albein-Urios, J Martinez-Gonzalez, B Gutierrez, C Soriano-Mas
(2015), Vol. 207, pp. 158-164, British journal of psychiatry, London, Eng., C1-1
N Albein-Urios, J Verdejo-Román, S Asensio, C Soriano-Mas, J Martínez-González, A Verdejo-García
(2014), Vol. 19, pp. 415-426, Addiction biology, Oxford, England, C1-1
Decision-making impairment predicts 3-month hair-indexed cocaine relapse
A Verdejo-Garcia, N Albein-Urios, J Martínez-González, E Civit, R de la Torre, O Lozano
(2014), Vol. 231, pp. 4179-4187, Psychopharmacology, Heidelberg, Germany, C1-1
Executive functions in cocaine-dependent patients with cluster B and cluster C personality disorders
N Albein-Urios, J Martínez-González, O Lozano-Rojas, A Verdejo-García
(2014), Vol. 28, pp. 84-90, Neuropsychology, Philadelphia, PA, C1-1
N Albein-Urios, A Pilatti, O Lozano-Rojas, J Martínez-González, A Verdejo-García
(2014), Vol. 29, pp. 38-46, Archives of clinical neuropsychology, Oxford, England, C1-1
Monetary delay discounting in gambling and cocaine dependence with personality comorbidities
N Albein-Urios, J Martinez-Gonzalez, Ó Lozano, A Verdejo-Garcia
(2014), Vol. 39, pp. 1658-1662, Addictive behaviors, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
L Moreno-López, N Albein-Urios, J Martinez-Gonzalez, C Soriano-Mas, A Verdejo-Garcia
(2014), Vol. 5, pp. 1-9, Frontiers in psychiatry, Lausanne, Switzerland, C1-1
J Martínez-González, N Albein-Urios, O Lozano-Rojas, A Verdejo-García
(2014), Vol. 26, pp. 116-125, Adicciones, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, C1-1
N Albein-Urios, J Verdejo-Román, C Soriano-Mas, S Asensio, J Martínez-González, A Verdejo-García
(2013), Vol. 23, pp. 1698-1707, European neuropsychopharmacology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
A Verdejo-García, N Albein-Urios, E Molina, A Ching-López, J Martínez-González, B Gutiérrez
(2013), Vol. 133, pp. 287-290, Drug and alcohol dependence, Shannon, Ireland, C1-1
N Albein-Urios, J Martinez-Gonzalez, Ó Lozano, L Moreno-López, C Soriano-Mas, A Verdejo-Garcia
(2013), Vol. 132, pp. 231-237, Drug and alcohol dependence, Shannon, Ireland, C1-1
Frontal systems related symptoms in cocaine dependent patients with comorbid personality disorders
N Albein-Urios, J Martinez-Gonzalez, Ó Lozano, A Verdejo-Garcia
(2013), Vol. 228, pp. 367-373, Psychopharmacology, Heidelberg, Germany, C1-1
Negative urgency, disinhibition and reduced temporal pole gray matter characterize the comorbidity of cocaine dependence and personality disorders
N Albein-Urios, J Martínez-González, O Lozano, L Moreno-Lopez, C Soriano-Mas, A Verdejo-García
(2013), Vol. 132, pp. 231-237, Drug and alcohol dependence, Shannon, Ireland, C1-1
N Albein-Urios, J Martinez-Gonzalez, Ó Lozano, L Clark, A Verdejo-Garcia
(2012), Vol. 126, pp. 1-6, Drug and alcohol dependence, Shannon, Ireland, C1-1
E Delgado-Rico, J Río-Valle, N Albein-Urios, A Caracuel, E González-Jiménez, M Piqueras, P Brandi, I Ruiz-López, I García-Rodríguez, M Martín-Matillas, M Delgado-Fernández, C Campoy, A Verdejo-García
(2012), Vol. 23, pp. 609-615, Behavioural pharmacology, Philadelphia, Pa., C1-1
J Martinez-Gonzalez, N Albein-Urios, P Munera, A Verdejo-Garcia
(2012), Vol. 5, pp. 18-24, International journal of psychological research, Medellin, Colombia, C1-1
Preliminary study for the validation of the Spanish version of the personality belief questionnaire
N Albein-Urios, J Martinez-Gonzalez, O Lozano-Rojas, A Verdejo-Garcia
(2011), Vol. 13, pp. 144-150, Trastornos adictivos, Barcelona, Spain, C1-1
Bases neurobiológicas de la comorbilidad entre consumo de cocaína y trastornos de la personalidad
N Albein-Urios, J Martínez-González, B Gutiérrez, Ó Lozano-Rojas, A Verdejo-García
(2011), Vol. 13, pp. 15-19, Trastornos adictivos, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
No Funded Projects at Deakin found
Supervisions
Dinisha Parmar
Thesis entitled: Safety and Efficacy of High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Inflexibility in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Doctor of Psychology (Clinical), School of Psychology
James Plumridge
Thesis entitled: Language knowledge and visual speech processing: An EEG investigation
Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology), School of Psychology
Claire McNeel
Thesis entitled: Exploring vicarious cortical activity through context, prediction, and action-preparation
Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology), School of Psychology
Soukayna Bekkali
Thesis entitled: The Human Mirror Neuron System and Empathy: A Multimodal Investigation
Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology), School of Psychology
Gillian Clark
Thesis entitled: The nature of procedural memory deficits in specific language impairment: An investigation using the serial reaction time task
Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology), School of Psychology