Biography
Rafay received his BSc. (Hons) degree in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Nottingham (UK) in 2014. He then proceeded to work as a Lab Manager in a research lab at the Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior (CB3) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, prior to joining the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a PhD student in the Neuroscience Program in 2017.
Research Interests
Member of Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience Lab
My broad research interests encompass cognitive control and attention. I am using tinnitus as a model to study anatomical and functional changes in the brain as they relate to cognitive functioning.
Research Description
As a PhD student in the Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience lab, I am using numerous behavioral tasks, and structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging sequences to study the neural mechanisms of tinnitus, and how they relate to the diminished cognitive capacity seen in those who suffer from tinnitus.
Education
BSc. (Hons) in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience - The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
Awards and Honors
Husain, F.T., Khan, R., Tai, Y. Neuroimaging brain changes following tinnitus treatment. Lemann Institute (UIUC)-FAPESP (Brazil) Collaborative Research Grant, (total cost) $20,000, June 1, 2018 – May 31, 2020
Courses Taught
Psych 100 - Introduction to Psychology (Fall 2019, Spring 2020)
External Links
Recent Publications
Shahsavarani, S., Khan, R.A., Husain, F.T. (2019). Tinnitus and the Brain: A Review of Functional and Anatomical Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies. Perspectives SIG6, Hearing and Hearing Disorders: Research and Diagnosis.