Cognitive Neuroscience · Affective Neuroscience · Psychophysiology · Behavioural Science

Mercede Erfanian

ESSCA · Lyon, France

Quantitative researcher integrating complex behavioural paradigms with psychophysiological and neurocognitive measures. My work spans perception, decision-making, affective processes, soundscape, and misophonia — with a strong emphasis on rigorous experimental design and reproducible analysis.

Misophonia Soundscape Pupillometry Decision-Making EEG · fMRI Psychophysiology Affective Neuroscience & Psychopathology

Who I Am

I am a neuroscientist with PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience. My academic journey spans clinical psychology, affective neuroscience, and cognitive neuroscience. Recently, I have been appointed as an assistant professor in quantitative methods.

My research integrates psychophysiological measures — including pupillometry, electrodermal activity, EEG, and fMRI — with advanced behavioural paradigms to understand how humans perceive, process, and respond to their auditory and social environments.

I am particularly known for my contributions to misophonia research, soundscape science, and the psychophysiology of auditory perception. I am also passionate about teaching quantitative methods, statistics, and experimental psychology across psychology, economics, and business education contexts.

Beyond the lab, I create science podcasts for the public, play professional badminton, and am a frequent voice in international media on topics of sound and the mind.

35+
Publications
10+
Conference Presentations
12+
Grants & Awards
20+
Media Appearances

Research Interests

🔊

Misophonia

Investigating the neurobiological, psychophysiological, and cognitive underpinnings of misophonia — including its relationship with emotional regulation, empathy, and sensory processing disorders.

🌆

Soundscape Science

Large-scale studies on how urban acoustic environments affect psychological well-being, physiological arousal, and subjective perception — contributing to international soundscape indices (SSID).

👁️

Pupillometry & Psychophysiology

Using pupil-linked arousal, electrodermal activity, ECG, and EEG as objective, continuous indices of cognitive and affective processes in auditory and decision-making paradigms.

🧠

Decision-Making

Examining how cognitive load, default nudges, and affective states shape human decision-making, using behavioural and occulomotor measures (eye-tracking, pupillometry).

📊

Quantitative Methods

Developing and applying advanced statistical and computational approaches — including confirmatory factor analysis, IRT, and psychometric evaluation — to psychological and neuroscientific data.

🎓

Teaching & Pedagogy

Teaching quantitative research methods, statistics, experimental psychology, and behavioural science across psychology, economics, and business education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Selected Publications

2026 — In Preparation
The Effect of Default Nudge and Cognitive Load on Decision-Making: What the Eyes Reveal
Erfanian, M., Rajabi, M., Meunier, L., Teye, P., Heimann, M., Gajewski, JF.
2026
The Effect of Cognitive Load and Default Nudges on Decision-Making: Experimental Evidence from a Behavioural Study
Erfanian, M., Meunier, L., Gajewski, J-F.
Journal of Behavioral Decision Making. ABS: 3 . https://doi.org/10.1002/bdm.70081
2025
Misophonia Symptoms Severity is Attributed to Impaired Flexibility and Heightened Rumination Q1
Black, V., Allen, JD., Aazh, H., Johnson, SL., Erfanian, M.
British Journal of Psychology · ABS: 3 . https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.70025
2025
Pupil-linked arousal does not differ between 'white', 'pink' and 'brown' noises
Erfanian, M., Chait, M., Kang, J.
International Journal pf Psychophysiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2025.113271
2025
Loudness and sound category: Their distinct roles in shaping perceptual and physiological attributes of soundscape
Erfanian, M., Oberman, T., Chait, M., Kang, J.
2025
Hyperacusis impact questionnaire: translation and psychometric evaluation of the Persian version
Azizi, M., Fathollahzadeh, F., Nazeri, A., Erfanian, M., et al.
International Journal of Audiology. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2025.2549463
2024
Confirmatory factor analysis of the Tinnitus Impact Questionnaire
Aazh, H., Moore, B.C.J., Erfanian, M.
PLoS ONE·
2024
Research priorities for autonomous sensory meridian response: an interdisciplinary Delphi study
Hostler, T.J., et al. including Erfanian, M.
Multisensory Research·
2023
Confirmatory factor analysis of the Hyperacusis Impact Questionnaire, Sound Sensitivity Symptoms Questionnaire, and Screening for Anxiety and Depression in Tinnitus
Aazh, H., Hayes, C., Erfanian, M., Moore, B.C.J., Vitoratou, S.
Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ·
2023
A conceptual framework for the practical use of predictive models and Soundscape Indices: Goals, constraints, and applications
Mitchell, A., Aletta, F., Oberman, T., Erfanian, M., Kang, J.
INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and Conference Proceedings·
2023
Soundscape experience of public spaces in different world regions: A comparison between the European and Chinese contexts via a large-scale on-site survey
Aletta, F., Oberman, T., Mitchell, A., Erfanian, M., Kang, J.
Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·
2023
On the development of soundscape indices (SSID)
Kang, J., Aletta, F., Oberman, T., Mitchell, A., Erfanian, M.
Proceedings of the International Congress on Sound and Vibration·
2022
Subjective evaluation of environmental sounds in context — towards Soundscape Indices (SSID)
Kang, J., Aletta, F., Oberman, T., Mitchell, A., Erfanian, M.
Forum Acusticum·
2022
Investigating urban soundscapes of the COVID-19 lockdown: A predictive soundscape modelling approach
Mitchell, A., Oberman, T., Aletta, F., Kachlicka, M., Lionello, M., Erfanian, M., Kang, J.
Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·
2022
Consensus Definition of Misophonia: A Delphi Study
Swedo, S., Baguley, D.M., Denys, D., Dixon, L.J., Erfanian, M., et al.
Frontiers in Auditory Neuroscience·
2022
Audiological and other factors predicting the presence of misophonia symptoms among a clinical population seeking help for tinnitus and/or hyperacusis
Aazh, H., Erfanian, M., Danesh, A.A., Moore, B.C.J.
Frontiers in Neuroscience·
2022
Supportive soundscapes are crucial for sustainable environments
Kang, J., Aletta, F., Oberman, T., Mitchell, A., Erfanian, M., et al.
Science of the Total Environment.
2022
Effects of Soundscape Complexity on Urban Noise Annoyance Ratings: A Large-Scale Online Listening Experiment
Mitchell, A., Erfanian, M., Soelistyo, C., Oberman, T., Kang, J., et al.
Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·
2021
Item response theory investigation of misophonia auditory triggers
Vitoratou, S., Uglik-Marucha, E., Hayes, C., Erfanian, M., Gregory, J.
Auditory Research·
2021
The motor basis for misophonia
Kumar, S., Dheerendra, P., Erfanian, M., Benzaquén, E., Sedley, W., et al.
Journal of Neuroscience·
2021
Psychological Well-being, Age, and Gender can Mediate Soundscape: A Large-Sample Study Q1
Erfanian, M., Mitchell, J.J., Aletta, F., Kang, A.
Journal of Environmental Psychology· ABS: 3
2020
The Soundscape Indices (SSID) Protocol: A method for urban soundscape
Mitchell, A., Oberman, T., Aletta, F., Erfanian, M., Kachlicka, M., Lionello, M., Kang, J.
Journal of Applied Sciences·
2019
Making cities smarter with new soundscape indices
Mitchell, A., Aletta, F., Oberman, T., Erfanian, M., Kachlicka, M., Lionello, M., Kang, J.
Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·
2019
A field study on associations between soundscape experience and self-reported well-being measures in open public urban spaces
Aletta, F., Oberman, T., Mitchell, A., Erfanian, M., et al.
The Lancet·
2019
Misophonia and comorbid Psychiatric Symptoms: A Preliminary Study of Clinical Findings
Erfanian, M., Kartsonaki, C., Keshavarz, A.
Nordic Journal of Psychiatry·
2019
The Psychophysiology of Soundscape: A Systematic Review of Empirical Literature
Erfanian, M., Mitchell, J.A., Kang, J., Aletta, F.
Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·
2018
Emotional and cognitive characteristics of Misophonia
Erfanian, M., & Rouw, R.
European Neuropsychopharmacology·
2018
Childhood trauma: A factor for increased risk of major depression in patients with psoriasis
Erfanian, M.
Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology·
2017
Misophonia and affective disorders: The relationship and clinical perspective
Erfanian, M., Brout, J.J., & Keshavarz, A.
European Psychiatry·
2017
A Large-Scale Study of Misophonia
Rouw, R., & Erfanian, M.
Journal of Clinical Psychology·
2017
Investigating misophonia: A review of the literature, clinical implications and research agenda
Brout, J.J., Edelstein, M., Erfanian, M., Kumar, S., et al.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience·

In the News

SAGA · 2025
What are white, pink and brown noise, and can they help your health?
NHPR Radio · 2023
New Hampshire Public Radio — Sound sensitivity & misophonia
NPR / 1A · 2022
Scientific Method: Can 'color sounds' help us get things done?
VICE New York · 2021
If you can't stand people fidgeting...
BBC (Belfast, London) · 2021
BBC appearances on misophonia and sound sensitivity
Oprah Magazine · 2019
Do you hear what I hear?
BBC Podcast · 2018
Phenomenology of Misophonia — Interview
Huffington Post · 2017
Huge Scientific Breakthroughs for Misophonia and Sound Intolerance
Philadelphia Daily News · 2015
Don't wanna hear it: When sounds become unbearable
Imperial College London · 2018
Misophonia: General perspective — I-Science Journal

Get in Touch

I welcome collaborations, media inquiries, and discussions about misophonia, soundscape, and psychophysiology research.