I am a Ph.D. candidate in Psychology at Tsinghua University (清华大学心理与认知科学系), where I also earned my Master’s degree in Psychology in 2021. Under the supervision of Dr. Fei Wang (王非), I am conducting research in the neural associations of self-processing. I also work with Dr. Jie Sui from the University of Aberdeen. I am expected to complete my Ph.D. in June 2026 and am actively seeking postdoctoral or faculty positions.
I welcome potential collaborations and opportunities.

Research Interests

My research interests focus on utilizing various technological approaches to address significant questions in social, cultural, and cognitive psychology.

Research Areas

• Self: Investigating the mechanisms of self-related processing and its role in human cognition
• Flow: Exploring the psychological state of flow experience and its applications

Technologies

• Neuroimaging: resting-state fMRI, task-based fMRI, DTI, EEG, and fNIRS
• Machine Learning: Predicting human behavior through computational approaches
• Natural Language Processing: Leveraging text analysis to understand psychological phenomena in natural language
• Drift Diffusion Modeling: Implementing computational modeling to understand decision-making processes and cognitive mechanisms

Publications

#co-first author; *corresponding author

Published (3)

1. Zhang, Y., & Wang, F.* (2024). Developments and trends in flow research over 40 years: A bibliometric analysis. Collabra: Psychology, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.92948
   (IF₂₀₂₃ = 3.1, SSCI Q1)
   

2. Zhang, Y., Wang, F.*, & Sui, J. (2023). Decoding individual differences in self-prioritization from the resting-state functional connectome. NeuroImage, 276, 120205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120205
   (IF₂₀₂₃ = 4.7, ESCI Q1)
   

3. Zhang, Y.#, Liang, Q.#, & Wang, F.* (2022). Influence of competition-outcome feedback in video games on players’ flow experience. Current Psychology, 42(21), 17583-17594. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-02935-0
   (IF₂₀₂₃ = 2.5, SSCI Q2)
   

In submission (3)

1. Zhang, Y., Zou, F., Jia, S., & Wang, F.* (In submission). Mapping the Positive Self-Bias Embedded in Human Languages. https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/mnv37_v1

2. Zhang, Y., Sun, Y., Wang, H., Pan, W., Wang, F.*, & Sui, J. (In submission). Neural Compensation in Medial Prefrontal Cortex Preserves Self-Prioritization in Aging: A Computational Approach.

3. Liang, Q., Zhang, Y., Wang, F., Wang, Y., Cheng, X., & Zhang, J. (In submission). Dissociation of self and mother-related processing in abstinent heroin misusers. https://www.authorea.com/doi/full/10.22541/au.172505835.58381832

Funding

• Future Talented Program of Social Sciences in Tsinghua University (202223)

Honors & Awards

• 2024: Award for Outstanding Poster at the Doctoral Students Forum of Tsinghua University
• 2024: Yatu Academic Excellence Scholarship of Tsinghua University
• 2023: Excellent Comprehensive Scholarship of Tsinghua University
• 2021: Excellent Master Thesis of Tsinghua University

Peer Review Service

• Reviewer, Acta Psychologica
• Reviewer, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

Invited Talks

[2023.12]: The theoretical and practical issues of resting-state fMRI

• Invited by Prof. Pei Sun to give a guest lecture in Brain Science Experiments course at Tsinghua University

Professional Training

[2024.07]: Multimodal Neuroimaging Analysis Training with FSL

• Training in FSL neuroimaging analysis (structural MRI, functional MRI, and DTI)
• Organized by Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Instructed by Yazhuo Kong (孔亚卓) and Jixin Liu (刘继欣)

Industry Experience

Full-time Data Analyst for 4 years across multiple industries including insurance, gaming, internet technology, and education.

Hobbies

🎾 Tennis (level: NTRP 3.5)
⛰️ Hiking and mountain climbing