Bio

J. Adam Noah with his husky, Aibo

Biography

J. Adam Noah, PhD

Associate Research Scientist, Department of Psychiatry
Yale School of Medicine

About

J. Adam Noah, PhD, is an Associate Research Scientist in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, where he has worked since 2013. His research uses functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), often combined with EEG, eye tracking, and other recording methods, to study the brain during live, face-to-face social interaction. Much of this work uses two-person “hyperscanning” to examine eye-to-eye contact, verbal and nonverbal communication, joint attention, and emotional expression, along with the signal-processing methods these recordings require. He has applied these approaches to autism spectrum disorder, first-episode psychosis, stuttering, and reading development. He has co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed articles in journals including NeuroImage, Neurophotonics, Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Scientific Reports, and The Journal of Neuroscience.

Noah earned a BA in Biology from West Virginia University, then an MS in Biological Sciences and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from Marshall University, where his doctoral research examined how load-sensing sense organs contribute to walking in insects. As a postdoctoral fellow in neuroscience at the University of Alberta (2003–2007), he studied rhythm-generating circuits in human infants, including breathing changes at the onset of stepping and interlimb coordination during crawling, supported by an NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA fellowship.

From 2007 to 2012 he was an Adjunct Professor in the Sport Science Department at Long Island University in Brooklyn, with secondary appointments in Physical Therapy, Media Arts, and Biology, and served as Technical Director/Engineer of the university’s ADAM Center. There he led research on dance video games and exer-games for energy expenditure, fall risk, and Parkinson’s disease, including a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Games Research grant. He was also a Research Fellow at the fMRI Center at Columbia University (2009–2012).

Noah is a Review Editor for Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, reviews for 28 journals, and serves on the Annual Meeting Committee of the Society for fNIRS. He has provided scientific advising to Shimadzu Corporation, where he initiated a partnership for distribution and support of the Shimadzu LABNIRS system in North America and Europe, and to Gilde Healthcare.

Education

  1. 2003PhD, Biomedical SciencesMarshall University School of Medicine, Huntington, WV
  2. 1998MS, Biological SciencesMarshall University, Huntington, WV
  3. 1996BA, BiologyWest Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Appointments

  1. 2013 – presentAssociate Research ScientistDepartment of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
  2. 2009 – 2012Research FellowfMRI Center, Columbia University, New York, NY
  3. 2007 – 2012Adjunct Professor, Sport Science DepartmentSchool of Health Professions, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY. Secondary appointments in Physical Therapy (School of Health Professions) and in Media Arts and Biology (Conolly College)
  4. 2007 – 2012Technical Director/EngineerADAM Center, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY
  5. 2003 – 2007Postdoctoral Fellow in NeuroscienceUniversity of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Honors & awards

  1. 2019Excellent Poster AwardShimadzu Global Innovation Summit
  2. 2002SfN Chapters/Eli Lilly Graduate Student Travel AwardSociety for Neuroscience Annual Meeting
  3. 2002Anagene Hiener Endowment Award, Outstanding Poster PresentationMarshall University Research Conference
  4. 2000Anagene Hiener Endowment Award, Outstanding Poster PresentationMarshall University Research Conference
  5. 1996Beta Beta BetaNational Biological Honor Society

Invited talks

  1. 2023“Multimodal Methods of fNIRS and EEG in Social Neuroscience”Kent State University BHRI Seminar Series
  2. 2022“Fundamentals of Whole Head fNIRS-EEG Recordings”University of Rhode Island Multimodal Neuroimaging Workshop
  3. 2020“Dual subject eye tracking during live interactive tasks and hyperscanning”Tobii Eye Tracking Research Symposium: Autism Across the Human Lifespan (virtual)
  4. 2019“Dynamic Cross-Brain Neural Coupling of Face Processes”Shimadzu Global Innovation Summit, Kyoto, Japan

Research funding

Current

  • 2025–2028Neural and Behavioral Correlates of Live Face-to-Face InteractionsNIH 1R61MH138705-01 · PI: J. HirschKey Personnel – Scientist
  • 2022–2027Tracking Neurocognitive Changes During Evidence-Based Reading Instruction in Typically and Atypically Developing ChildrenNIH 4R37HD090153-06 · PI: K. PughKey Personnel – Scientist

Past

  • 2019–2023Mechanisms of Dynamic Neural Coupling During Face-to-Face Expressions of EmotionNIH R01MH119430 · PI: J. HirschKey Personnel – Scientist
  • 2019–2022The Impact of Social-Cognitive Processing on StutteringNIH R21DC017821 · PI: E. JacksonKey Personnel – Scientist
  • 2017–2021Tracking Neurocognitive Changes During Evidence-Based Reading Instruction in Typically and Atypically Developing ChildrenNIH 1R37HD090153-01A1 · PI: K. PughKey Personnel – Scientist
  • 2017–2022Tracking Neurocognitive Changes During Computer-Aided Reading Instruction in Typically and Atypically Developing ChildrenNIH R37HD090153 · PI: J. HirschKey Personnel – Scientist
  • 2016–2022Neural Mechanisms for Social Interactions and Eye Contact in ASDNIH R01MH111629 · PI: J. HirschKey Personnel – Scientist
  • 2015–2021Mechanisms of Interpersonal Social Communication: Dual-Brain fNIRS InvestigationNIH R01MH107513 · PI: J. HirschKey Personnel – Scientist
  • 2012–2013Behavioral Economics of Video Game Activity MonitoringLIU Health and Wellness InstitutePrincipal Investigator
  • 2010–2015Physical and Cognitive Video Game Training Effects on Body Composition, Fitness, and Brain ActivityJSPS Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research · PI: A. TachibanaCo-Investigator
  • 2010–2011Dance Video Game Training Effects on Body Composition, Fitness, and Brain Activity in Young Overweight AdultsLIU Health and Wellness InstitutePrincipal Investigator
  • 2010–2011Effectiveness of Virtual Training on Physical and Well-Being Measures Associated with FallingLIU Health and Wellness InstitutePrincipal Investigator
  • 2009–2011Dance Video Game Training and Falling in Parkinson’s DiseaseRobert Wood Johnson Foundation – Health Games ResearchPrincipal Investigator
  • 2009–2010Dance Video Game Training Effects on Cognitive, Physical, and Well-Being Measures in Healthy ElderlyNYS – LIU Worksite Wellness GrantPrincipal Investigator
  • 2008–2009Effectiveness of Virtual Training on Physical and Well-Being Measures Associated with FallingLIU Intramural Research Support ProgramPrincipal Investigator
  • 2008–2009Biomechanics of B-GirlingNike Sports Research Lab · PI: S. BronnerKey Personnel – Scientist
  • 2003–2007Multiple Rhythm Generating Circuitry in the Human InfantNIH Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Postdoctoral FellowshipPostdoctoral Trainee

Service & advisory roles

Editorial & professional service

  1. 2021 – presentAnnual Meeting CommitteeSociety for fNIRS
  2. 2020 – presentReview EditorFrontiers in Human Neuroscience

Scientific advisory

  1. Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, JapanInitiated a partnership for distribution and support of Shimadzu LABNIRS in North America and Europe
  2. Gilde Healthcare, Utrecht, The NetherlandsGeneral scientific advising related to mergers and acquisitions

Professional memberships

  1. 1998 – presentSociety for Neuroscience
  2. 1998 – presentSociety for Neuroethology
  3. 2015 – presentSociety for Social Neuroscience
  4. 2014 – presentSociety for fNIRS

Teaching

  1. 2007 – 2012Adjunct Professor, Long Island University – BrooklynBiology, New Media Performance, and Sports Science: human anatomy, neuroscience, motion capture for motion pictures and video games, scientific writing, and grantsmanship; thesis committee member on multiple master’s degrees
  2. 2000 – 2003Teaching Assistant, Marshall University School of MedicineAnatomy, Cell and Neurobiology: histology, cell biology, gross anatomy (head and neck), lower-limb dissection, and neuroanatomy

Ad hoc reviewer

  • Behavior and Brain Functions
  • Biophotonics
  • BMC Sports Science
  • Brain and Cognition
  • Brain Structure and Function
  • Cognitive Processing
  • Cortex
  • Defense Technology
  • Entertainment Computing
  • Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
  • Frontiers in Psychology
  • Gait and Posture
  • Journal of Applied Medicine
  • Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
  • Journal of Biomedical Optics
  • Journal of Healthcare Engineering
  • Journal of Neuroscience Methods
  • Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
  • Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research
  • Medicine &amp
  • Science in Sports &amp
  • Exercise
  • NeuroImage
  • Neurophotonics
  • Neuroscience Letters
  • PLOS One
  • Prosthetics &amp
  • Orthotics
  • Safety Science
  • Scientific Data
  • Scientific Reports

See the full list of publications on the Publications page.