Speaking Engagements
Atiqah has delivered talks and workshops on relational neuroscience to the general public, academics, and practitioners including to educators, organisational leaders, and government officials.
From Neural Synchrony to Positive Communication: Understanding the Dynamics of Effective Online Collaboration
1-hour workshop
In the evolving landscape of higher education, effective collaboration is increasingly vital, particularly in hybrid and online environments. Yet, the competencies that sustain productive virtual teamwork remain poorly elucidated.
This workshop integrates findings from two complementary studies examining the cognitive and behavioural foundations of online collaboration. Study 1 used functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning to measure inter-brain synchrony (IBS) – the alignment in brain signals between individuals – in 30 undergraduate dyads during a three-phase Zoom seminar (lecture, discussion, presentation). IBS emerged primarily during interactions and predicted both relational satisfaction and task performance. Study 2 employed a 15-category sentiment lexicon to analyse discussion transcripts from the same dyads engaged in Cognitive Conflict, Brainstorming, and Problem-Solving tasks. Positive sentiments such as affirmation, encouragement, and praise significantly enhanced group satisfaction and performance, while Cognitive Conflict elicited more negative affect.
Together, these studies highlight how neural and behavioural alignment contribute to collaborative success in virtual settings. Learning objectives: Participants will (1) explain how inter-brain synchrony and positive sentiments support effective online collaboration; (2) apply strategies to foster cohesion and performance in online learning or workplace settings.
Neuroscience of Stress and Resilience: From the Individual to the Relational Brain
1.5-hour talk and neuroimaging demonstration
This workshop explores the neuroscience of stress and resilience through a relational lens, integrating findings from affective neuroscience, interpersonal regulation, and neuroimaging research. Moving beyond traditional views of resilience as an individual trait, the session examines resilience as a dynamic neurobiological and relational process shaped by regulation, recovery, adaptation, and social interaction.
Participants will learn how stress influences brain functioning and how evidence-based regulation practices such as mindfulness and cognitive reframing can strengthen neural systems involved in emotional regulation. The workshop also introduces the concept of co-regulation, highlighting how human nervous systems influence one another through interpersonal cues such as facial expression, tone of voice, and body language.
Drawing on research in emotional contagion and interpersonal neural synchrony, the session further explores how stress and calm can spread across teams, relationships, and social environments. Particular attention is given to how moments of interpersonal rupture may temporarily disrupt synchrony between individuals, and how processes of repair and reconnection can restore coordination and strengthen relational resilience over time.
The workshop includes a live neuroimaging demonstration to illustrate how brain and physiological responses are shaped during social interaction. Together, these perspectives provide an integrative understanding of resilience not simply as an internal capacity, but as a process emerging through relationships, environments, and shared regulation.
In sync through play: The power of parent-child synchrony in shaping development
1.5-hour workshop
This interactive 90-minute workshop explores the powerful role of parent-child synchrony in shaping children’s emotional, cognitive, and behavioural development. Synchrony—defined as the moment-to-moment alignment of brain and behavioural signals between parent and child—reflects a deep emotional and psychological connection. These shared, attuned interactions are foundational for how children learn to regulate emotions, sustain attention, and build social relationships. Research has shown that parent-child brain synchrony plays a crucial role in supporting the development of attention, emotional regulation, and learning in children.
Drawing on findings from her published research, Associate Professor Atiqah Azhari will share how stress—particularly during play—can disrupt this delicate synchrony, interfering with co-regulation and connection. The workshop will introduce strategies to enhance brain synchrony, such as turn-taking behaviours, non-verbal gestures, and the use of music in play. By the end of the session, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how everyday moments of interactive play can strengthen the developing brain, and walk away with actionable tools to support children’s development.
