Dr. Saber Sotoodeh

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Dr. Saber Sotoodeh

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Biography

Dr. Saber Sotoodeh, Movement Scientist & Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Saber Sotoodeh is a scientist specialising in the intersection of Human Movement, Developmental Psychology, and Artificial Intelligence. He received his PhD in Motor Behaviour in 2019 from the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, where he investigated the behavioral and neurophysiological basis of observational learning in autistic individuals.

Currently, Saber is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Sussex, working on the “Baby Grow Study.” His research focuses on identifying early motor markers of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using high-frequency sampling and computer vision. By combining traditional clinical assessments with advanced pose estimation (Machine Learning), he aims to create scalable, automated tools for early diagnosis of neurodevelopmental conditions.

His multidisciplinary approach integrates neuroimaging (EEG), eye-tracking, and motion analysis to decode how humans perceive and perform actions.

Motor Behaviour includes Motor Development, Learning and Control. I study motor behaviour from different aspects, from early reflexive movements in newborn babies to motor learning in neurodiverse individuals. The ultimate aim is to design and test physical training protocols to enhance motor skills or use movement-related features for early diagnosis of conditions like autism.

Key Publications:

  • Sotoodeh, M. S., & Taheri-Torbati, H. (2021). A Point-Light Display Model for Teaching Motor Skills to Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Eye-Tracking Study. Perceptual and Motor Skills. LINK
  • Taheri-Torbati, H., & Sotoodeh, M. S. (2019). Using video and live modelling to teach motor skill to children with autism spectrum disorder. International Journal of Inclusive Education. LINK
  • Sotoodeh, M. S., Arabameri, E., et al. (2017). Effectiveness of yoga training program on the severity of autism. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. LINK

My research investigates the trajectory of motor development in infants and children, specifically those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). I utilize longitudinal cohort studies to track how early motor variations can predict future social-communication skills.

Key Publications:

  • Sotoodeh, M.S., Donati, G., Ossmy, O., et al. (Under Review). Movement-related differences in infants with high and low likelihood of developing autism: a longitudinal cohort study. Autism Research.
  • Arabameri, E., & Sotoodeh, M. S. (2015). Early developmental delay in children with autism: A study from a developing country. Infant Behavior and Development. LINK
  • Ossmy, O., Donati, G., Kaur, A., Sotoodeh, S., & Forrester, G. (2025). Towards Automatic Assessment of Atypical Early Motor Development? Brain Research Bulletin. LINK

I explore the neurophysiological underpinnings of action perception. Using EEG and neuroimaging, I study how the “Mirror Neuron System” (Mu suppression) functions in neurodiverse individuals during biological motion perception.

Key Publications:

  • Sotoodeh, M. S., Chien, S. H.-L., & Hadjikhani, N. (2024). Visual attention modulates mu suppression during biological motion perception in autistic individuals. European Journal of Neuroscience.LINK
  • Sotoodeh, M. S., Taheri-Torbati, H., et al. (2021). Preserved action recognition in children with autism spectrum disorders: Evidence from an EEG and eye-tracking study. Psychophysiology.LINK
  • Sotoodeh, M. S., Taheri-Torbati, H., Sohrabi, M., & Ghoshuni, M. (2019). Perception of biological motions is preserved in people with autism spectrum disorder: electrophysiological and behavioural evidences. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. LINK

Leveraging Python, MATLAB, and MOKKA, I develop automated pipelines to quantify human movement. My recent work involves using pose estimation algorithms on standard video data to capture subtle kinematic features in newborns.

Key Publications:

  • Sotoodeh, M., Ossmy, O., Donati, G. et al. Automatic pose estimation in newborn infants: Lessons from the Baby Grow study. Behav Res58, 82 (2026). https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-026-02943-z
  • O. Ossmy, H. Rowan, M. S. Sotoodeh, J. Hall, G. Donati and G. Forrester, “Frequent, Scalable and Global Use of “Intelligent Onesies” to Quantify Newborns’ Spontaneous Movements in Natural Settings,” 2025 IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL), Prague, Czech Republic, 2025, pp. 1-6. LINK

Below is the list of my underreview and published studies:

  • Sotoodeh, M., Ossmy, O., Donati, G. et al. Automatic pose estimation in newborn infants: Lessons from the Baby Grow study. Behav Res 58, 82 (2026). https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-026-02943-z 
  • Sotoodeh, MS., Donati, G., Ossmy, O., Rowan, H., Forrester, GS. (Under review at Autism Research). Movement-related differences in infants with high and low likelihood of developing autism: a longitudinal cohort study.
  • Sotoodeh, MS., Daemi, N., Forrester, GS., (Under review at Developmental Science). The modulation role of arousal in perception of action in autistic children. 
  • Ossmy, O., Donati, G., Kaur, A., Sotoodeh, S., & Forrester, G. (2025). Towards Automatic Assessment of Atypical Early Motor Development?. Brain Research Bulletin, 111311.
  • Ossmy, O., Rowan, H., Sotoodeh, S., Hall, J., Donati, G., & Forrester, G. (2025). Frequent, Scalable and Global Use of “Intelligent Onesies” to Quantify Newborns’ Spontaneous Movements in Natural Settings.
  • Sotoodeh, M. S., Chien, S. H.-L., & Hadjikhani, N. (2024). Visual attention modulates mu suppression during biological motion perception in autistic individuals. European Journal of Neuroscience, 60(11), 6668–6685. LINK
  • Dehghani, A., Taheri Torbati, H. R., Sohrabi, M., Daneshfar, A., & Sotoodeh, M. S. (2023). The effect of transcranial alternating current stimulation over the supplementary motor area on bimanual coordination in elderly people. Sport Sciences and Health Research, 15(1), 113-125. LINK
  • Dehghani, A., Taheri Torbati, H. R., Sohrabi, M., Daneshfar, A., & Sotoodeh, M. S. (2023). Effects of Online Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Over the Parietal Cortex and Supplementary Motor Area on Bimanual Coordination in Elderly Women. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, 29(3), 250-267.
  • Zahmati, M., Azimzadeh, S.M., Sotoodeh, M.S. et al. An eye-tracking study on how the popularity and gender of the endorsers affected the audience’s attention on the advertisement. Electron Commer Res 23, 1665–1676 (2023). LINK
  • Saber Sotoodeh, M., & Taheri-Torbati, H. (2021). A Point-Light Display Model for Teaching Motor Skills to Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Eye-Tracking Study. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 00315125211016814. Link
  • Sotoodeh, M. S., Taheri‐Torbati, H., Hadjikhani, N., & Lassalle, A. (2021). Preserved action recognition in children with autism spectrum disorders: Evidence from an EEG and eye‐tracking study. Psychophysiology, 58(3), e13740. Link
  • Mahmoodifar, E., & Sotoodeh, M. S. (2020). Combined transcranial direct current stimulation and selective motor training enhances balance in children with autism spectrum disorder. Perceptual and motor skills, 127(1), 113-125. Link
  • Azimzade, M., Nobakht, F., Aminiroshan, Z., & Sotoodeh, M. S. (2020). Employing Eye Tracking in Quantifying and Qualifying Visual Attention of Web Site Viewers (Physical Education Faculties). Journal of Advanced Sport Technology, 4(1), 9-19. Link
  • Zahmati, M., Azimzade, M., & Sotoodeh, M. S. (2020). Using Eye Tracking Technology to Investigation the Impact of Celebrity Athlete Endorsement on the Attention to Advertising. Journal of Advanced Sport Technology, 3(2), 61-70. Link
  • Sotoodeh, M. S., Taheri‐Torbati, H., Sohrabi, M., & Ghoshuni, M. (2019). Perception of biological motions is preserved in people with autism spectrum disorder: electrophysiological and behavioural evidences. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 63(1), 72-84. LINK
  • Taheri-Torbati, H., & Sotoodeh, M. S. (2019). Using video and live modelling to teach motor skill to children with autism spectrum disorder. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 23(4), 405-418. LINK
  • Sotoodeh, M. S., Arabameri, E., Panahibakhsh, M., Kheiroddin, F., Mirdoozandeh, H., & Ghanizadeh, A. (2017). Effectiveness of yoga training program on the severity of autism. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 28, 47-53. LINK
  • Moshref-Razavi, S., Sohrabi, M., & Sotoodeh, M. S. (2017). Effect of neurofeedback interactions and mental imagery on the elderly’s balance. Iranian Journal of Ageing, 12(3), 288-299. LINK
  • Arabameri, E., & Sotoodeh, M. S. (2015). Early developmental delay in children with autism: A study from a developing country. Infant Behavior and Development, 39, 118-123.LINK
  • Sotoodeh, M. S., Rasool, H., Arabameri, E., & Zeidabadi, R. (2015). The effect of skill types and competition level on the functions of observational learning in athletes. Psicología Educativa, 21(1), 39-45. LINK
  • Memari, A. H., Kordi, R., Ziaee, V., Mirfazeli, F. S., & Setoodeh, M. S. (2012). Weight status in Iranian children with autism spectrum disorders: Investigation of underweight, overweight and obesity. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 6(1), 234-239. LINK
  • Sotoodeh, M. S., Talebi, R., Hemayattalab, R., & Arabameri, E. (2012). Comparison of selected mental skills between elite and nonelite male and female Taekwondo athletes. World Journal of Sport Sciences, 6(1), 32-38. LINK

School of Psychology, University of Sussex

Roles:

  • Postdoc Research Fellow
  • Movement Scientist
  • Data Analyst

Contact Details

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