Shira Cohen-Zimerman, PhD

Shira Cohen-Zimerman, PhD

Research Scientist
Research Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

My Lab

Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory: Led by Jordan Grafman, PhD

We focus on executive function and social cognition, their representations in the brain, and ways to improve these functions in patients with brain damage.

view lab

About Me

Dr. Shira Cohen-Zimerman is a Research Scientist at Shirley Ryan 暴走黑料 and a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She has over 20 years of clinical and research experience in the areas of cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychology, and neurorehabilitation, with a particular focus on cognitive and emotional outcomes following neurological injury and disease.

Her current research focuses on rehabilitation outcomes and patient-centered interventions for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI), Long COVID, and other neurological conditions. She has led and contributed to studies examining cognitive rehabilitation, motivation and engagement following brain injury, and the neural basis of behavior, using behavioral, clinical, and neuroanatomical approaches.

Dr. Cohen-Zimerman is also leading a growing line of research investigating transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) in rehabilitation, including ongoing clinical trials evaluating its feasibility and therapeutic potential for cognitive rehabilitation in individuals with TBI.

In addition to her research activities, Dr. Cohen-Zimerman is actively engaged in student mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the advancement of translational rehabilitation research aimed at improving quality of life and long-term functional outcomes for individuals living with neurological conditions.

Location

355 E. Erie Street

Chicago, IL 60611

Education & Training

  • Education

    2015

    PhD, Hebrew University of Jerusalem,Israel

    2010

    MA, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

    2004

    B.SC., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

  • LICENSES

    2017

    Licensed Rehabilitational Psychologist, Israel

  • FELLOWSHIP

    2008 – 2009

    Visiting Graduate Student
    Baycrest Center, Toronto, Canada

Recent Publications

Cohen-Zimerman S, Cristofori I, Zhong W, Bulbulia J, Krueger F, Gordon B, Grafman J
Cognitive, affective & behavioral neuroscience
doi: 10.3758/s13415-020-00787-4
Cohen-Zimerman S, Kachian ZR, Krueger F, Gordon B, Grafman J
Neuropsychologia
doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2019.01.001
Cohen-Zimerman S, Hassin RR
Consciousness and cognition
doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2018.06.007

Honors & Awards

  • Travel award, Big Data in Neuroscience Conference
    2019
  • Israel association of university women award
    2012
  • The Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute award
    2011
  • The Eric and Fuga Neuberger award
    2011
  • Hoffman Leadership and Responsibility Fellowship
    2009 - 2012
  • Graduate program fellowship, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    2005 - 2008

Research Interests

  • Social Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Motivation and Rewards
  • Cognitive Rehabilitation