Contact Details:
Telephone: (+44)(1382) 384613
Email: Emese
Nagy
Postal Address:
School of Psychology
The University of Dundee
Dundee
DD1 4HN
Scotland, UK
As a medical student I became interested in the origin of our sociality and using psychological, ethological and psychophysiological methods I started to explore how newborn infants communicate in the very first days of their lives, and I am still researching this area.
After receiving an M.D. degree in medicine, I worked at the Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Medical University, later at the Semmelweis Medical University in Hungary. I have also studied and received an M.A. degree at psychology to gain a fuller understanding of my interdisciplinary research and teaching area.
I received my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry from the Semmelweis Medical University in Budapest, and started my psychiatry residency.
During my postdoctoral training I became interested in autism as a disorder and as a model of potential disturbances of our inborn sociality.
Neuroscience and Development
In the scientific search for our inborn sociality - the origin of sociality
in humans - I have started to explore how newborn infants are able to communicate
from birth. While studying the phenomenon of neonatal imitation, we discovered
and described how newborn infants are able not only to imitate but also to initiate
social interaction immediately after birth (Nagy and Molnar, 1994, 1997, 2004;
Nagy et al, 2005; Nagy, in press). We called this phenomenon 'provocation' or
neonatal initiation. Our results offered the first scientific proof that newborn
infants are born to communicate, ready for the first 'dialogues' immediately
after birth. Using both psychophysiological methods and ethological analysis,
in the last decade we have tried to further describe neonatal imitation and
communication.
From the search for the earliest signs of our sociality, my research lead towards
the area of the abnormal development of sociality in neurodevelopmental disorders,
especially in autism. I have been exploring how children with autism understand
and display emotions and how their neuropsychological development corresponds
to their deficits in socio-emotional functions.
Research grants |
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| The Intersubjective Newborn: The analysis of the earliest expressive behaviours in human neonates. The British Academy, SG/54514, (PI: E Nagy), 2009-2011. |
| Exploring mechanisms underlying neonatal imitation: Towards the Human Imprinting Model. Nuffield Foundation, SGS/36565, (PI: E Nagy) 2009-2010. |
| The phenomenon and mechanisms of innate intersubjectivity: Newborns’ sensitivity to communication disturbance. ESRC Standard Research Grant, (PI: E Nagy), No: RES-062-23-1779, 2009-2010 |
| Cross Trust Vacation Scholarship - for Emma Reid, 2007. |
| Investigations of the mechanisms of neonatal imitation. ESRC, 2006-2008. (PI: E, Nagy). No: RES-000-22-1887. Rated : Outstanding. |
| Neural system for nonverbal communication: a functional neuroimaging study. Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, 2006-2008, (PI: E,Nagy). |
| Origins of our sociality: Newborn infants' sensitivity to the 'still face' situation. The British Academy, 2006-2007. (PI: E, Nagy). |
| Neurophysiological (fMRI) bases of reciprocal interpersonal communication. EU Project funded by the University of Aberdeen (Bardos, Gy, Nagy, E. Liotti, M., Waiter, G., Bromiley, A., Trevarthen, C). |
| Nagy, E. The earliest sex-related differences in human interpersonal communication. The Nuffield Foundation, 2005-2006, PI: E, Nagy. |
| Faculty small research grant. University of Dundee, 2005, (PI: E, Nagy). |
| Orientation reaction to speech and non-speech sounds in children with autism (the Royal Society, 2003-2005. (PI: E, Nagy) |
| The effect of alcohol consumption on mother-infant interaction. British Academy, 2003-2004. (PI: E, Nagy). |
| Expression and coding of nonverbal communication: Ontogenetic and psychophysiological approach. Hungarian National Science Foundation. 1997-99. (PI: E, Nagy). |
| Psychophysiological analysis of neonatal imitation phenomena. Grant from the Semmelweis Medical University. 1995-97. (PI: E, Nagy). |
| Interdisciplinary analysis of human attachment. Young Investigator Grant. Hungarian National Science Foundation. 1996-97. (PI: E, Nagy). |
Travel grants: |
| Hungarian Eötvös State Scholarships, 1997 and 1998. |
| Travel grant to attend the Conference of the Neuroscience Society, Orlando, Florida, and visit Houston, Texas. The Royal Society, London. 2002. £1120. |
| Travel grant to attend the Conference of the Society for Research in Child Development, Tampa, Florida, The Royal Society, London, 2003 |
| William Ramsay Henderson Trust Travelling Scholarship. 2003. |
| Links | Publications |
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Books and Chapters: |
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| Molnar, P., Nemes, L., Nagy, E. (2010). Enphronesis in statu nascendi: Bonding brains in mutual niche construction. In. M. Brune, F. Salter, & W.C. McGrew (Eds). Building Bridges between Anthropology, Medicine and Human Ethology, European University Press: The University Press Bochum. Pp. 125-143. | |
| Trevarthen, C., Aitken, K.J., Vandekerckhove, M., Delafield-Butt, J., Nagy, E. (2006). Collaborative regulations of vitality in early childhood: Stress in intimate relationships and postnatal psychopathology. In Developmental Psychopathology, Chicchetti, D., Cohen, D.J, (Eds). 2nd Ed. Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey, Vol. 2. pp. 65-127. | |
| Molnár, P., Nemes, L., & Nagy, E. (2004). The evolutionary dyad as a developmental system: mutual niche-construction in the mother-infant relationship. (Az evolucios diad, mint fejlodesi rendszer: kolcsonos niche-konstrukció az anya-gyermek kapcsolatban) in: Pléh, C., Kampis, G. & Csanyi, V. (Eds.) Az észleléstõl a nyelvig.(From Perception to Language). pp.261-273, Gondolat, Budapest. | |
| Hayman, L.A. & Nagy, E. : Kluver-Bucy syndrome. (2001). In: Gruson E. (Ed.): Guide to rare disorders. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins. | |
| Nagy, E. and Molnár, P. (2001) Developmental psychopathology: approach from the behavioural sciences /A korai fejlÿdés zavarai: Magatartástudományi szempontok/. In Buda, B., Kopp, M. and Nagy, E. (Eds.). Behavioural Sciences, Magatartástudományok . Medicina, Budapest, 2001. | |
| B., Kopp, M. and Nagy, E. (Eds.). Behavioural Sciences, Magatartástudományok/ . Medicina, Budapest, 2001. | |
| Nagy, E. and Molnár, P. (2001) Neurobiology of early development and attachment. /A korai fejlÿdés és kötÿdés neurobiológiája/. In Buda, B., Kopp, M. and Nagy, E. (Eds.). Behaviour Sciences /Magatartástudományok/. Medicina, Budapest. | |
| Molnár, P. and Nagy, E. (1997) On the phenomenon of inborn sociality. /A veleszületett szocialitás jelenségérÿl./ In Hidas, Gy. (Ed.), From the conception to the society /A megtermékenyitéstÿl a társadalomig. Az ember, a kultúra és a társadalom perinatális dimenziói/. Dinasztia, Budapest. | |
Refereed Journal Papers |
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| Nagy, E. (In press) From symmetry to asymmetry: The development of smile. Cortex. DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2011.04.002 | |
| Nagy, E.. (2011) Sharing an intersubjective moment: the duration of embraces in humans. Journal of Ethology, 29(2):389-393, DOI: 10.1007/s10164-010-0260-y. | |
| Nagy, E., Molnar, P., Pal, A., Orvos, H. (2011). Prevalence rates and socio-economic characteristics of postpartum depression in Hungary. Psychiatry Research, 185(1-2):113-120. | |
| Nagy, E. (2011). The Newborn Infant: A missing stage in developmental psychology. Infant and Child Development. 20(1):3-19. |
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| Nagy, E., Liotti, M., Brown, S. Waiter, G.., Bromiley, A. Trevarthen, C., Bardos, G. (2010). The neural mechanisms of reciprocal communication. Brain Research, 1353:159-167. | |
| Nagy, E. (2009). The emergence of the second person cognitive science. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 13(12): 502-504. | |
| Nagy, E., Orvos, H., Bakki, J., Pal, A. (2009). Sex-differences in Apgar scores for full-term neonates. Acta Paediatrica, 98:897-900. | |
| Nagy, E. Innate intersubjectivity (2008). Newborns' sensitivity to communication disturbance. Developmental Psychology, 44(6):1779-1784 | |
| Nagy, E., Kompagne, H., Orvos, H., Pal, A. (2007). Sex-related differences in neonatal imitation. Infant and Child Development. 16(3):267-276. | |
| Nagy, E. (2006). From imitation to conversation: The first dialogues with human neonates. Infant and Child Development. 15:223-232. | |
| Nagy, E., Compagne, H., Orvos, H., Pal, A, P., Molnar, P., Janszky, I., Loveland, K., Bardos, Gy. (2005). Index finger movement imitation by human neonates: Motivation, learning and left-hand preference. Pediatric Research, 58:749-753. | |
| Nagy, E., Loveland, K.A., Molnar, P. (2005). The role of orientation in emotion perception. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 101:217-222. | |
| Nagy, E. (2005). The first dialogue: Conversation through imitation with newborn infants. Behavioral Brain Sciences, Supplementary Commentary. | |
| Nagy,E. and Molnar, P. (2004). Homo imitans or homo provocans? The phenomenon of neonatal initiation. Infant Behavior and Development, 27, 57-63 | |
| Nagy, E., Potts, G.F and Loveland, K.A. (2003) Gender-related differences in ERP to detection of deviant stimuli in an auditory oddball paradigm. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 48(3), 285-292. | |
| Nagy, E., & Loveland, K. (2002). Prolonged brainstem auditory evoked potentials: An autism specific or non-specific marker? Archives of General Psychiatry, 59(3), 288-290. | |
| Nagy, E., Loveland, K.A. Kopp, M., Orvos, H., Pal, A. & Molnar, P. (2001). Different emergence of fear expressions in infant boys and girls. Infant Behavior and Development, 24, 189-194. | |
| Lau C, Nagy E, Hurst N, Schanler RJ. (2002). Maternal psychological stress and lactation following premature delivery. Pediatric Research, 51, 25A | |
| Nagy, E., Loveland, K.A.& Potts, G.F. (2001). Gender-related differences in ERP to detection of deviant stimuli in an auditory oddball paradigm. Psychophysiology, 38:S, 69. | |
| Nagy, E., Orvos, H., Pál, A., Kovács, L., & Loveland, K. (2001). Breastfeeding duration and previous breastfeeding experience. Acta Paediatrica, 90(1), 51-56. | |
| Nagy, E. (2001). Gender related body temperature differences in human neonates. Early Human Development. 64(1), 37-43. | |
| Nagy, E., Loveland, K.A., Orvos, H. & Molnár, P. (2001). Gender-Related physiological differences in human neonates and the greater vulnerability of males to developmental brain disorders. Journal of Gender-Specific Medicine, 4(1), 41-49. | |
| Nagy, E. & Loveland, K. (2001). Olfactory versus categorization deficit in Alzheimer Disease. American Journal of Psychiatry, 158(9), 1533. | |
| Nagy, E., Orvos, H., Bardos, Gy., & Molnár, P. (2000). Gender-related heart rate differences in human neonates. Pediatric Research, 47(6), 778-780 | |
| Nagy, E., Nemeth, E. & Molnár, P. (2000). From unidentified to 'misidentified' newborn: male bias in recognition of sex.. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 90, 102-104. | |
| Nagy, E. & Kovacs, E. (2000). Preliminary data from the Hungarian toddler behavior rating scale: caregivers' and mothers' ratings and anxiety. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 91, 910-914. | |
| Nagy, E. & Molnár, P. (1999). Heart rate deceleration during the grasping reflex. European Journal of Pediatrics, 158, 576-577. | |
| Nagy, E. and Molnár, P. (1998). Fogóreflex és kötõdés: Kapcsolatuk pszichofiziológiai modellje. (In Hungarian: Graspind reflex and attachment: Physiological model) Pszichológia, 18, 35-47 | |
| Molnár, P. & Nagy, E. (1996). Az elso dialógus:Útban a szoptatás interdiszciplináris megközelítése felé /Hungarian. The first dialogue: toward an interdisciplinary approach to breastfeeding/. Lege Artis Medicinae, 6(5), 314-322. | |
| Nagy, E. & Molnár, P. (1996). Imitáció és provokáció: Az elsõ dialogues. /In Hungarian: Imitation and Provocation: the first dialogue/. Magyar Pszichológiai Szemle, 36, 55-66. | |
Conference abstracts published | |
| Nagy, E., Kopp, M.S., Stauder, A., Molnar, P., Orvos, H., Pal, A. (2003). Postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety in Hungary. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 21(3), 247-248. | |
| Molnar, P. & Nagy, E. (1996). Human imprinting, critical period, caregiver responsibility: A new look at causes and consequences in postnatal development. Infant Behavior and Development, 19, 627. | |
| Nagy, E. & Molnar, P. (1996). On the origin of emotions: The phenomenon of emotional reading. Infant Behavior and Development 19, 644 | |
| Nagy, E. & Molnár, P. (1995). On the phenomenon and mechanism of inborn social competence. Neurobiology, 3, 104 | |
| Nagy, E & Molnar, P (1994). Homo Imitans or Homo Provocans? International Journal of Psychophysiology, 18(2), 128. | |
Conference Papers |
|
| Nagy, E. The Intersubjective Newborn: The origin and ‘anatomy’ of the first dialogue. Keynote talk, VIG Conference, Dundee, 2009. | |
| Nagy, E. From Imitation to imprinting; and from Imprinting to a shared intersubjective world. Invited talk. 'Sharing in Culture and Nature', Symposium organized by Giannis Kugiumutzakis, University of Crete, Rethymno, Greece, October, 2009. | |
| Nagy, E. Channels of the innate intersubjectivity: The role of the face, voice, and the movement in neonatal imitation and communication. The European Conference of Developmental Psychology, Vilnius, Lithuania, 2009. | |
| Nagy, E. The 'anatomy' of neonatal imitation: From imprinting to intersubjectivity. Invited Symposium, 11th European Congress of Psychology, Oslo, 2009. | |
| Nagy, E. Socio-emotional processing in autism. International Psychology Conference: Understanding and Dealing with autism. Invited talk, Amsterdam, 2008. |
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| Nagy, E. Neonatal imitation: Facts, mechanisms, function. Paper to be presented at the 20th Biennial Conference on Human Development, Indianapolis, IN, USA, 2008. | |
| Nagy, E. Micro-analytic investigations of neonatal behaviour in social situations: Intentionality, Social competence, and the first dialogues. Invited Workshop at the 21st Annual Gravens Conference on the Physical and Developmental Environment of the High Risk Infant, ClearWater Beach, Florida, 2008. | |
| Nagy, E. Neonatal imitation of hand and finger movements: mechanisms, functions and ’meanings’. Invited Plenary Talk at the 21st Annual Gravens Conference on the Physical and Developmental Environment of the High Risk Infant, ClearWater Beach, Florida, 2008. | |
| Nagy, E. Inborn sociality: Newborns’ sensitivity to the still face paradigm. Submitted paper to the 20th Convention of the Association for Psychological Science, Chicago, IL, USA, 2008 | |
| Nagy, E. Neonatal imitation: Facts, mechanisms, function. Paper to be presented at the 20th Biennial Conference on Human Development, Indianapolis, IN, USA, 2008. | |
| Nagy, E. Micro-analytic investigations of neonatal behaviour in social situations: Intentionality, Social competence, and the first dialogues. Invited Workshop at the 21st Annual Gravens Conference on the Physical and Developmental Environment of the High Risk Infant, ClearWater Beach, Florida, 2008. | |
| Nagy, E. Neonatal imitation of hand and finger movements: mechanisms, functions and ’meanings’. Invited Plenary Talk at the 21st Annual Gravens Conference on the Physical and Developmental Environment of the High Risk Infant, ClearWater Beach, Florida, 2008. | |
| Nagy, E. & Duncan, L. The effect of maternal anxiety on their children’s play behaviour. 27th Stress and Anxiety Research Conference, Crete, 2006. | |
| Nagy, E. Homo Imitans or Homo Provocans? Evidence for innate intersubjectivity. Le Bebe et la Pulsion. Invited presentation at Journées d'étude del'Association lacanienne internationale et Espace Analytique, Paris, France. 2005. | |
| Nagy, E. Emotion processing in Autism. Scottish Autism Research Group Seminar Series, St. Andrews, Scotland, Invited Presentation, 2004. | |
| Nagy, E. Homo imitans or Homo Provocans? The first dialogue. Paper presented at Imitation Workshop, in Bergen, Norway, Invited Presentation, (org. by Zeedyk and Heimann) 2004. | |
| Nagy, E., Kopp, M., Molnar, P., Stauder, A., Orvos, H. Pal, A.: Postpartum depression and anxiety in Hungary and infant development: The first national survey from Eastern Europe. Submitted to the 23rd Annual Conference of Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology, Dundee, Scotland, 2003. | |
| Nagy, E. Gender-related psychophysiological differences in human neonates. British Psychophysiology Society - 31st Annual Scientific Meeting Portsmouth, UK, 2003. | |
| Nagy, E. and Molnar, P. What neonatal imitation tells us about neonatal memory? The Fifth Biennial Meeting of the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition (SARMAC), Aberdeen, Scotland, 2003. | |
| Nagy, E., Molnar, P., Orvos, H., Compagne, H., Loveland, K.A., Janszky, I. and Bardos, Gy.: Lateralized brain system for neonatal imitation. Biennal Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, 2003, Tampa, Florida. | |
| Loveland, K.A., Bachevalier, J., Pearson, D.A., Lane, D., Nagy, E., Shaw, J.B., Reddoch, S., Dodds, K. Orbitofrontal dysfunction in autism. International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) Orlando, Florida, 2002. | |
| Nagy, E., Loveland, K.A., Potts, G.F., Pearson, D.A., Thomas, T.: The role of the prefrontal cortex in implicit categorization learning with socially relevant stimuli. Paper presented at the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Orlando, FL, November, 2002. | |
| Pearson, D.A., Potts, G., Nagy, E., Loveland K.A., Azzam, P., Faria, L.P., Ortegon, J., & Thomas, T. (2002). Response Conflict in Children and Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: An ERP Study. Paper presented at the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Orlando, FL, November 2002. | |
| Molnar, P., Nagy, E. and Nemes, L. The ‘bonding brain’. In: Symposium on Evolution of the Brain and Cognition Collegium Budapest, Institute for Advanced Studies: (Organized by Jean-Pierre Changeux and Eörs Szathmáry), Budapest, Hungary, 2002. | |
| Lau, C., Nagy, E., Hurst, N. & Schanler, R. Stress and lactation in mothers of preterm infants Pediatric Academic Societies' Meeting, Baltimore, MD., 2002. |
Biological Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Developmental Psychopathology
Senior Honours Course Organizer
Adviser of Studies, Faculty of Life Sciences
Member of the Departmental Ethics Committee
Member of the University Ethics Committee
Teaching and Learning Committee
School Forum
Departmental First Aid
Disability Officer (2004-2006)
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