Daniel Joel Shaw

@aston.ac.uk

School of Psychology
Aston University

Daniel Joel Shaw
As a social cognitive neuroscientist, I develop experimental paradigms and neuroimaging techniques to investigate the brain systems that support social cognition (e.g., perspective taking, empathy). Currently, I am developing interactive ("second-person") paradigms that can be used to measure brain function from two individuals simultaneously whilst they engage in social interaction with one another. This "hyperscanning" allows me to explore the brain systems associated with social cognitive process while they unfold during real interpersonal behaviour.

EDUCATION

2016-2017 Postgraduate Certificate of Academic Practice (Lancaster University)
2007-2011 Ph.D. Social Neuroscience (Brain & Body Centre, University of Nottingham)
2006-2007 M.Sc. Psychological Research Methods: Merit (University of Nottingham)
2003-2006 B.Sc. Psychology: 2:1 (University of Nottingham)

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience

FUTURE PROJECTS

Social brain fingerprints: using network science to extract neural correlates of interpersonal (dys)function.

Establishing and maintaining meaningful interpersonal relationships is crucial for our mental and physical well-being. This relies on our ability to interact effectively with others - our "interpersonal competencies". This PhD project will extend preliminary finding from the project team: First, it will determine how different brain networks integrate with one another during social behaviour by imaging the brains of individuals during second-person paradigms (Objective 1). Second, it will determine the physical connections that mediate the efficiency of these brain network integrations (Objective 2). Third, it will combine these functional and structural brain datasets to construct social brain networks from which we can reliably identify individuals and estimate their interpersonal competencies (Objective 3).


Applications Invited
PhD student
55

Scopus Publications

1139

Scholar Citations

20

Scholar h-index

35

Scholar i10-index

Scopus Publications

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Altered Patterns of Dynamic Functional Connectivity Underpin Reduced Expressions of Social–Emotional Reciprocity in Autistic Adults
    K Czekóová, R Mareček, R Staněk, C Hartley, K Kessler, P Hlavatá, ...
    Autism Research 18 (4), 725-740 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 4
  • Investigating visual perspective taking and belief reasoning in autistic adults: A pre-registered online study
    R Lara Green, S Joanne Carrington, DJ Shaw, K Kessler
    Autism 29 (4), 920-933 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 5
  • Are we capturing individual differences? Evaluating the test–retest reliability of experimental tasks used to measure social cognitive abilities
    CR Pennington, K Birch-Hurst, M Ploszajski, K Clark, C Hedge, DJ Shaw
    Behavior Research Methods 57 (2), 82 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 6
  • Social competencies mediate relationships between styles of social media usage and psychosocial wellbeing
    CR Pennington, EAH Murray, LK Kaye, AP Burgess, K Kessler, DJ Shaw
    Computers in Human Behavior Reports 19, 100753 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 2
  • Social cognitive disruptions in multiple sclerosis: The role of executive (dys) function.
    CR Pennington, MCSY Oxtoby, DJ Shaw
    Neuropsychology 38 (2), 157 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 12
  • Relationships between the race implicit association test and other measures of implicit and explicit social cognition
    CR Pennington, M Ploszajski, P Mistry, N NgOmbe, C Back, S Parsons, ...
    Frontiers in Psychology 14, 1197298 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 6
  • Dissociating visual perspective taking and belief reasoning using a novel integrated paradigm: A preregistered online study
    R Green, DJ Shaw, K Kessler
    Cognition 235, 105397 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 2
  • The interacting brain: Dynamic functional connectivity among canonical brain networks dissociates cooperative from competitive social interactions
    DJ Shaw, K Czekóová, R Mareček, BH Špiláková, M Brázdil
    NeuroImage 269, 119933 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 19
  • It’s not what you do, it’s the way that you do it: An experimental task delineates among passive, reactive and interactive styles of behaviour on social networking sites
    DJ Shaw, LK Kaye, N Ngombe, K Kessler, CR Pennington
    Plos one 17 (12), e0276765 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 18
  • Take my advice: Physiological measures reveal that intrinsic emotion regulation is more effective under external guidance
    N Ngombe, K Kessler, DJ Shaw
    International Journal of Psychophysiology 180, 49-59 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 6
  • A high‐density EEG investigation into the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying differences between personality profiles in social information processing
    K Czekóová, DJ Shaw, M Lamoš, BH Špiláková, M Salazar, R Roman, ...
    Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 63 (5), 484-494 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 1
  • The role of generalised reciprocity and reciprocal tendencies in the emergence of cooperative group norms
    M Salazar, DJ Shaw, K Czekóová, R Staněk, M Brázdil
    Journal of Economic Psychology 90, 102520 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 22
  • Insights into déjà vu: Associations between the frequency of experience and amplitudes of low‐frequency oscillations in resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging
    E Zatloukalova, M Mikl, DJ Shaw, R Marecek, L Sakalosova, M Kuratkova, ...
    European Journal of Neuroscience 55 (2), 426-437 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 5
  • Raising the bar: improving methodological rigour in cognitive alcohol research
    CR Pennington, A Jones, JE Bartlett, A Copeland, DJ Shaw
    Addiction 116 (11), 3243-3251 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 26
  • A novel statistical model for predicting the efficacy of vagal nerve stimulation in patients with epilepsy (Pre-X-Stim) is applicable to different EEG systems
    E Koritáková, I Doležalová, J Chládek, T Jurková, J Chrastina, F Plešinger, ...
    Frontiers in Neuroscience 15, 635787 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 9
  • You took the words right out of my mouth: Dual-fMRI reveals intra-and inter-personal neural processes supporting verbal interaction.
    M Salazar, DJ Shaw, M Gajdoš, R Mareček, K Czekóová, M Mikl, ...
    NeuroImage 228, 117697 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 23
  • Imitation or polarity correspondence? Behavioural and neurophysiological evidence for the confounding influence of orthogonal spatial compatibility on measures of automatic …
    K Czekóová, DJ Shaw, M Lamoš, B Špiláková, M Salazar, M Brázdil
    Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience 21 (1), 212-230 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 8
  • High frequency oscillations in epileptic and non-epileptic human hippocampus during a cognitive task
    M Pail, J Cimbálník, R Roman, P Daniel, DJ Shaw, J Chrastina, M Brázdil
    Scientific reports 10 (1), 18147 , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 56
  • Where's the wine? Heavy social drinkers show attentional bias towards alcohol in a visual conjunction search task
    CR Pennington, DJ Shaw, J Adams, P Kavanagh, H Reed, M Robinson, ...
    Addiction 115 (9), 1650-1659 , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 39
  • You≠ me: individual differences in the structure of social cognition
    DJ Shaw, K Czekóová, CR Pennington, AW Qureshi, B Špiláková, ...
    Psychological Research 84 (4), 1139-1156 , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 53

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Lost in the rhythm: effects of rhythm on subsequent interpersonal coordination
    M Lang, DJ Shaw, P Reddish, S Wallot, P Mitkidis, D Xygalatas
    Cognitive Science 40 (7), 1797-1815 , 2016
    2016
    Citations: 84
  • Memory for expectation-violating concepts: The effects of agents and cultural familiarity
    M Porubanova, DJ Shaw, R McKay, D Xygalatas
    PloS one 9 (4), e90684 , 2014
    2014
    Citations: 68
  • High frequency oscillations in epileptic and non-epileptic human hippocampus during a cognitive task
    M Pail, J Cimbálník, R Roman, P Daniel, DJ Shaw, J Chrastina, M Brázdil
    Scientific reports 10 (1), 18147 , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 56
  • A dual-fMRI investigation of the iterated Ultimatum Game reveals that reciprocal behaviour is associated with neural alignment
    DJ Shaw, K Czekóová, R Staněk, R Mareček, T Urbánek, J Špalek, ...
    Scientific reports 8 (1), 10896 , 2018
    2018
    Citations: 56
  • You≠ me: individual differences in the structure of social cognition
    DJ Shaw, K Czekóová, CR Pennington, AW Qureshi, B Špiláková, ...
    Psychological Research 84 (4), 1139-1156 , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 53
  • Social cognition and idiopathic isolated cervical dystonia
    K Czekóová, P Zemánková, DJ Shaw, M Bareš
    Journal of Neural Transmission 124 (9), 1097-1104 , 2017
    2017
    Citations: 53
  • Development of the action observation network during early adolescence: a longitudinal study
    DJ Shaw, MH Grosbras, G Leonard, GB Pike, T Paus
    Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 7 (1), 64-80 , 2012
    2012
    Citations: 47
  • The mechanisms of movement control and time estimation in cervical dystonia patients
    P Filip, OV Lungu, DJ Shaw, T Kasparek, M Bareš
    Neural Plasticity 2013 (1), 908741 , 2013
    2013
    Citations: 46
  • Where's the wine? Heavy social drinkers show attentional bias towards alcohol in a visual conjunction search task
    CR Pennington, DJ Shaw, J Adams, P Kavanagh, H Reed, M Robinson, ...
    Addiction 115 (9), 1650-1659 , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 39
  • EEG reactivity predicts individual efficacy of vagal nerve stimulation in intractable epileptics
    M Brázdil, I Doležalová, E Koritáková, J Chládek, R Roman, M Pail, ...
    Frontiers in Neurology 10, 392 , 2019
    2019
    Citations: 37
  • Minimal-Counterintuitiveness Revisited: Effects of cultural and ontological violations on concept memorability
    M Porubanova-Norquist, DJ Shaw, D Xygalatas
    Journal for the Cognitive Science of Religion 1 (2), 181-192 , 2014
    2014
    Citations: 36
  • Functional anatomy of outcome evaluation during Iowa Gambling Task performance in patients with Parkinson’s disease: an fMRI study
    T Gescheidt, R Mareček, M Mikl, K Czekóová, T Urbánek, J Vaníček, ...
    Neurological Sciences 34 (12), 2159-2166 , 2013
    2013
    Citations: 35
  • Dissecting social interaction: dual-fMRI reveals patterns of interpersonal brain-behavior relationships that dissociate among dimensions of social exchange
    B Špiláková, DJ Shaw, K Czekóová, M Brázdil
    Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 14 (2), 225-235 , 2019
    2019
    Citations: 29
  • Raising the bar: improving methodological rigour in cognitive alcohol research
    CR Pennington, A Jones, JE Bartlett, A Copeland, DJ Shaw
    Addiction 116 (11), 3243-3251 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 26
  • An evaluation of traffic-awareness campaign videos: empathy induction is associated with brain function within superior temporal sulcus
    J Zelinková, DJ Shaw, R Mareček, M Mikl, T Urbánek, D Havlíčková, ...
    Behavioral and brain functions 10 (1), 27 , 2014
    2014
    Citations: 26
  • Impaired self-other distinction and subcortical gray-matter alterations characterize socio-cognitive disturbances in multiple sclerosis
    K Czekóová, DJ Shaw, K Saxunová, M Dufek, R Mareček, J Vaníček, ...
    Frontiers in Neurology 10, 525 , 2019
    2019
    Citations: 25
  • Development of functional connectivity during adolescence: a longitudinal study using an action–observation paradigm
    DJ Shaw, MH Grosbras, G Leonard, GB Pike, T Paus
    Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 23 (12), 3713-3724 , 2011
    2011
    Citations: 25
  • You took the words right out of my mouth: Dual-fMRI reveals intra-and inter-personal neural processes supporting verbal interaction.
    M Salazar, DJ Shaw, M Gajdoš, R Mareček, K Czekóová, M Mikl, ...
    NeuroImage 228, 117697 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 23
  • The role of generalised reciprocity and reciprocal tendencies in the emergence of cooperative group norms
    M Salazar, DJ Shaw, K Czekóová, R Staněk, M Brázdil
    Journal of Economic Psychology 90, 102520 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 22
  • Mismatch negativity-like potential (MMN-like) in the subthalamic nuclei in Parkinson’s disease patients
    E Minks, P Jurák, J Chládek, J Chrastina, J Halámek, DJ Shaw, M Bareš
    Journal of neural Transmission 121 (12), 1507-1522 , 2014
    2014
    Citations: 22

GRANT DETAILS

2025-2028 Grant Agency Czech Republic (€168K, Co-investigator): Neurocognitive foundations of social cognition and interpersonal behaviour.
2023-2025 BBSRC (£285K, Principal Investigator): The interacting brain: defining the role of dynamism among canonical brain networks during interactive behaviour.
2022-2023 Experimental Psychology Society (£53K, Co-investigator): Neurocognitive mechanisms underpinning alcohol consumption in adolescence.
2018-2020 Grant Agency Czech Republic (€203.5K, Principal Investigator): Back-and-forth: Investigating the balance between self- and other-goals in negotiation with dual-fMRI.
2017-2018 Czech-BioImaging (€10.8K, Co-investigator): Understanding social deficits in autism: A dual-fMRI investigation using the iterated Ultimatum Game.
2016-2018 Grant Agency Czech Republic (€166.7K, Principal Investigator): Improving driver-rehabilitation programs: A neurobehavioural evaluation of empathy induction.
2015-2017 Grant Agency Czech Republic (€158.3K, Co-investigator): Individual differences in self-other distinction.

CONSULTANCY

Cognition Agency