Dr Samuel Antonio Montero Hernandez

Dr Samuel Antonio Montero Hernandez

School of Computer Science
Assistant Professor

Contact details

Address
School of Computer Science
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Dr. Montero-Hernandez's work primarily involves developing and applying computational models for causal discovery algorithms. He is also interested in brain connectivity methods, specifically those that utilize functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) data. He contributes to developing algorithms for the quality control of fNIRS signals, ensuring the integrity and precision of the data used in his research. Recently, his investigation has found practical applications in resting state data analysis and pain management investigations.

Qualifications

  • PhD in Computer Science, Instituto Nacional de Astrofisica, Optica y Electronica. Mexico. 2019
  • MSc in Computer Science, Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Superiores del Instituto Politecnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN). Mexico. 2014
  • BEng in Computer Engineering, Insituto Tecnologico de Tapachula. Mexico. 2008

Biography

Dr. Samuel Montero-Hernandez obtained his PhD from Instituto Nacional de Astrofisica, Optica y Electronica (National Institute for Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics) in 2019.

He was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Houston from 2019 to 2023 in Dr Luca Pollinini’s lab where he designed techniques for assessing the signal quality and to examine functional brain activity in specific conditions using fNIRS.

In 2023 he joined Professor David Boas group as postdoctoral associate investigating the functional connectivity networks from resting-state.

He also has expertise in developing algorithms for causal discovery and machine learning (including neural networks and evolutionary algorithms for optimization).

Research

  • Functional and effective brain connectivity.
  • Causal discovery algorithms.
  • Optical neuroimaging analysis.

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Stute, K, Gossé, L, Montero Hernandez, S, Perkins, G, Yücel, MA, Orihuela-Espina, F, Mesquita, R, Dehghani, H & Elsherif, M 2025, 'The fNIRS glossary project: a consensus-based resource for functional near-infrared spectroscopy terminology', Neurophotonics, vol. 12, no. 2, 027801. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.NPh.12.2.027801

Stute, K, Gossé, L, Montero-Hernandez, SA, Perkins, GA, Yücel, MA, Cutini, S, Durduran, T, Ehl, A-C, Ferrari, M & Gervain, J 2025, 'The fNIRS Glossary Project: A Consensus-based Resource for Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Terminology', Neurophotonics.

Sorkpor, SK, Montero-Hernandez, S, Miao, H, Pollonini, L & Ahn, H 2023, 'Assessing the impact of preferred web app-based music-listening on pain processing at the central nervous level in older black adults with low back pain: An fNIRS study', Geriatric Nursing, vol. 54, pp. 135-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2023.09.005

Gorniak, SL, Wagner, VE, Vaughn, K, Perry, J, Cox, LG, Hibino, H, Montero-Hernandez, SA, Hernandez, AE & Pollonini, L 2023, 'Functional near infrared spectroscopy detects cortical activation changes concurrent with memory loss in postmenopausal women with Type II Diabetes', Experimental Brain Research, vol. 241, no. 6, pp. 1555-1567. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-023-06581-1

Hernández-Román, J, Montero-Hernández, S, Vega, R, Orihuela-Espina, F & Soto, E 2023, 'Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation Activates the Parietal and Temporal Cortex in Humans: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) Study.', European Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 58, no. 1, pp. 2267-2277. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.16041

Montero-Hernandez, S, Pollonini, L, Park, L, Martorella, G, Miao, H, Mathis, KB & Ahn, H 2023, 'Self-administered transcranial direct current stimulation treatment of knee osteoarthritis alters pain-related fNIRS connectivity networks', Neurophotonics, vol. 10, no. 1, 015011. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.NPh.10.1.015011

Chapter (peer-reviewed)

Orihuela-Espina, F, Rojas-Cisneros, M, Montero-Hernández, SA, García-Salinas, JS, Cuervo-Soto, B & Herrera-Vega, J 2022, Physics augmented classification of fNIRS signals. in Biosignal Processing and Classification Using Computational Learning and Intelligence: Principles, Algorithms, and Applications. Elsevier, pp. 375-405. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-820125-1.00031-2

Abstract

Park, J, Montero-Hernandez, S, Huff, A, Lee, C, Pollonini, L, Park, L, Lin, L, Galvin, J & Ahn, H 2025, 'Pain-Evoked Functional Activation Combining Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation with Brain Imaging in Older Adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias', Brain Stimulation: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation, vol. 18, no. 1, P1.094, pp. 393-394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2024.12.533

Park, J, Montero-Hernandez, S, Huff, AJ, Park, L, Lin, L & Ahn, H 2024, 'Subjective and Objective Pain Assessment in Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: Comparisons Among Self-Report of Pain, Observer-Rated Pain Assessment, and Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy', The Journal of Pain, vol. 25, no. 4, Supplement, pp. 49-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2024.01.227

Conference contribution

Sloutsky, R, Yücel, MA, Montero-Hernandez, S, Baker, TC, Ellis, TD, Boas, DA & Awad, LN 2025, Neural Correlates of Post-Stroke Gait Recovery: Functional Network Connectivity Is Related to Gait Propulsion Symmetry. in 2025 Combined Sections Meeting (CSM). 50th APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Houston, Texas, United States, 13/02/25.

Montero-Hernandez, S, Gao, Y, Zhang, Y, Beeler, D, Somers, D, Yücel, M & Boas, DA 2024, Repeatability of Default Mode and Dorsal Attention Networks Measured with Whole Head fNIRS. in Proceedings: Optica Biophotonics Congress: Biomedical Optics 2024 (Translational, Microscopy, OCT, OTS, BRAIN)., BW1C-1, Optica Biophotonics Congress: Biomedical Optics, Optica Publishing Group (formerly OSA), pp. BW1C-1, Optica Biophotonics Congress: Biomedical Optics 2024 (Translational, Microscopy, OCT, OTS, BRAIN), Fort Lauderdale, United States, 7/04/24. https://doi.org/10.1364/BRAIN.2024.BW1C.1

Rojas-Cisneros, M, Orihuela-Espina, F & Montero Hernandez, S 2021, Analysis in the broader, medium, and narrow autism phenotypes using fNIRS. in Optics and the Brain, BRAIN 2021., BW4B.4, Optics and the Brain, OSA - The Optical Society, Optics and the Brain, BRAIN 2021 - Part of Biophotonics Congress: Optics in the Life Sciences 2021, Virtual, Online, United States, 12/04/21.

Burgess, A, Hernandez, SM, Li, X, Bick, J & Pollonini, L 2021, Correlation between socioeconomic disadvantage in preschool children and brain organization: a functional NIRS connectivity study. in Biophotonics Congress 2021 OSA Technical Digest (Optica Publishing Group, 2021): Optics and the Brain 2021., BW4B-5, Optica Publishing Group (formerly OSA), Biophotonics Congress 2021, Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 12/04/21. https://doi.org/10.1364/BRAIN.2021.BW4B.5

Vallenilla, NA, Montero-Hernandez, S, Ahn, H, Miao, H & Pollonini, L 2021, Hemodynamic Response Function from Osteoarthritic Pain using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. in Biophotonics Congress 2021 OSA Technical Digest (Optica Publishing Group, 2021): Bio-Optics: Design and Application 2021., JTu4A-32, Optica Publishing Group (formerly OSA), Biophotonics Congress 2021, Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 12/04/21. https://doi.org/10.1364/BODA.2021.JTu4A.32

Preprint

fNIRS Reproducibility Study Hub 2024 'The fNIRS Reproducibility Study Hub (FRESH): Exploring Variability and Enhancing Transparency in fNIRS Neuroimaging Research' OSF Preprints. https://doi.org/10.31222/osf.io/pc6x8_v1

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