Main research
I am interested in the neural mechanism underlying prediction-based decision-making processes involved in tactile detection, learning and memory. Combining the functional neuroimaging techniques (fMRI and EEG) and computational modelling, I am investigating how the participates update their decision-makings about subsequent predictions especially after they made wrong predictions during a probabilistic tactile learning. I am also interested in how Acetylcholine and Dopamine differentially regulate the integration of tactile perception and expectations during tactile inference and learning by modulating the recurrent information flow within a hierarchy network. State-dependent effects of reward and punishment and the pharmacological effects on these effects will also be studied.
Curriculum vitae
since 02/2018
Postdoctoral fellow Neuroimaging Research Group Neuroplasticity/Learning
University Clinic Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
04/2014 - 10/2017
PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience.
Thesis "Neural oscillatory dynamics in the motor system of healthy adults"
Medicine Faculty, University of Cologne, Germany
10/2013 - 10/2017
Research fellow in Cognitive Neuroscience
Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3)
Research Centre Jülich, Germany
07/2013
Diploma in Psychology from South China Normal University
Publications
Wang BA, Pleger B (2020). Confidence in decision-making during probabilistic tactile learning related to distinct thalamo-prefrontal pathways. Cerebral Cortex. 30(8): 4677-4688. DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa073
Viswanathan S*, Abdollahi R*, Wang BA, Grefkes C, Fink GR, Daun S (2020). A response-locking protocol to boost sensitivity for fMRI-based neurochronometry. Human Brain Mapping. DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25026
Wang BA, Schlaffke L, Pleger B (2020): Modulations of insular projections by prior belief mediate the precision of prediction error during tactile learning. J Neurosci 40:3827–3837.
Viswanathan S*, Wang BA*, Abdollahi, R, Daun S, Grefkes C, Fink GR (2019). Freely chosen and instructed actions are terminated by different neural mechanisms revealed by kinematics-informed EEG. NeuroImage 188: 26-42 (* equal contribution)
Rosjat N, Liu L, Wang BA, Popovych S, Toth TI, Viswanathan S, Grefkes C, Fink GR, Daun S (2018). Aging-associated changes of movement-related functional connectivity in the human brain. Neuropsychologia, 117:520-529
Wang BA, Viswanathan S, Abdollahi R, Rosjat N, Popovych S, Daun S, Grefkes C, Fink GR (2017). Frequency-specific modulation of connectivity in the ipsilateral sensorimotor motor cortex by different forms of movement initiation. NeuroImage 159: 248-260
Liu L, Rosjat N, Popovych S, Wang BA, Yeldesbay A, Toth TI, Viswanathan S, Grefkes C, Fink GR, Daun S (2017). Age-related changes in oscillatory power affect motor action. PloS ONE 12(11): e0187911.8
Popovych S, Rosjat N, Toth TI, Wang BA, Liu L, Abdollahi, R, Viswanathan S, Grefkes C, Fink GR, Daun S (2016). Movement-related phase locking in the delta–theta frequency band. NeuroImage, 139: 439-449
Wang J, Lu M, Fan Y, Wen X, Zhang R, Wang B, Ma Q, Song Z, He Y, Huang R (2016). Exploring brain functional plasticity in world class gymnasts: a network analysis. Brain Struct Funct. 221 (7): 3503-3519
Zhang R, Wei Q, Zalesky A, Li M, Xu Y, Li L, Wang J, Zheng L, Wang B, Zhao J, Zhang J, Huang R. (2015). Disrupted brain anatomical connectivity in medication-naïve patients with first-episode schizophrenia. Brain Struct Funct. 220 (2):1145-59
Yu R*, Wang B*, Li S, Wang J, Zhou F, Chu S, He X, Wen X, Ni X, Liu L, Xie Q, Huang R (2015). ‘Cognitive enhancement of healthy young adults with hyperbaric oxygen: A preliminary resting-state fMRI study’ Clin Neurophysiol. 126(11):2058-67. (* equal contribution)
Wang B, Fan Y, Lu M, Li S, Song Z, Peng X, Zhang R, Lin Q, He Y, Wang J, Huang R (2013). ‘Brain anatomical networks in world class gymnasts: A DTI tractography study’. NeuroImage 65: 476– 487
Li S, Wang B, Xu P, Lin Q, Gong G, Peng X, Fan Y, He Y, Huang R (2013). ‘Increased Global and Local Efficiency of Human Brain Anatomical Networks Detected with FLAIR-DTI Compared to Non-FLAIR-DTI’ PLoS ONE 8(8): e71229.