Ying Yang

Background

About Ying Yang

I have developed two research interests over the years. First, to investigate normal encoding and processing of semantics and prosody using multiple physiological recording modalities, including single neuron spikes, ECoG (Electrocorticography) and EEG (Electroencephalography). Second, to study the abnormal processing through exploitation of big data, from both behavioral measurement and structural MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). The main experimental approach I take is to combine naturalistic behavioral paradigms and computational encoding models. My PhD and postdoctoral training not only helped me develop skills in neurophysiological recording, data analysis, computational modeling, neuroimage processing and acoustic analysis, but also provide a long-term research trajectory for me: investigating the modulation and probabilistic influence of different information sources (at suprasegmental and segmental levels) on neural encoding of semantics and prosody under natural reading or passive listening paradigms. What intrigues me as a lifelong career goal is to understand the ‘neural dynamics’ of natural language use when no external responses are needed. Please see the attached file for a detailed description of my research projects.