敏捷腦與認知實驗室 | Agile Brain and Cognition (ABC) Lab @ NTHU

ABOUT ABC | 關於我們

The Agile Brain and Cognition (敏捷腦與認知實驗室, ABC) lab was first established in 2021 by Dr. Zai-Fu Yao in the Graduate Institute of Sports Training (競技運動訓練研究所, GIST) at the University of Taipei (formerly known as the Taipei Physical Education College). The ABC lab will be soon relocated to National Tsing Hua University (國立清華大學) in August 2022.

高學歷也中招！竹科CEO「58歲失智」搭高鐵突忘在哪下車一名58歲竹科企業的CEO近幾個月來，出現多次突然失憶的狀況，例如搭乘高鐵時，忘記該在哪一站下車，起初以為是壓力大所致，但狀況越來越嚴重，就醫檢查確診為早期阿茲海默症。

國立清華大學 (@nthu_official) on Threads🧠清華大學跨域神經科學研究，打造失智早篩新希望本校與中國醫大合作開發「腦波診斷模型」，有助於提早篩選出阿茲海默症的前期病患。台灣即將邁入超高齡化社會，科學化、精準化的失智早期診斷工具真的太重要了！姚在府助理教授說明這套「腦波診斷模型」是竹師教育學院研究團隊延伸王子華院長推動的教育與心智科學研究主題，針對跨族群空間能力神經科學及腦機介面進行研究，並結合電資學院、理學院與中國附醫神經科陳睿正醫師團隊合作研發。這套模型透過非侵入性腦電儀，結合空間能力任務，能在傳統神經心理測驗仍無法辨識時，及早篩檢出阿茲海默症的潛在病患。 🧭姚老師進一步說明，「空間迷航」是失智症的重要臨床病徵之一。團隊發展的評估工具可以了解患者的空間物件辨識與關係建構、視角轉換能力、及地圖與空間訊息整合定位，同時也從腦電生理訊號著手，紀錄大腦活動變化。透過精細的腦電訊號分析，團隊成功捕捉額葉與運動腦區在空間導航過程的活躍參與，也發現關鍵的神經機制與潛在生物標記，為失智症的早期診斷與理解提供新視角。（1/2）

中醫大新竹附醫聯手清大發展腦波診斷揪出早期阿茲海默症 - 中國醫藥大學新竹附設醫院「我才58歲，怎麼會得失智症？」一位竹科企業CEO，長年帶領上百人團隊的許先生，在一次簡報中突然忘詞，連公司的基本財報數字都說不出來。起初他以為是壓力太大，但幾個月內狀況愈來愈明顯，甚至在高鐵上忘了該在哪一站下車。求診中國醫藥大學新竹附設醫院神經科醫師陳睿正，經由腦波診斷模型與電腦化心理評估，發現其認知功能下降，進一步的Aβ PET檢查，顯示他腦中出現大量β類澱粉蛋白沉積，確診為早期阿茲海默症。

國立清華大學National Tsing Hua University🧠清華大學跨域神經科學研究，打造失智早篩新希望本校與中國醫大合作開發「腦波診斷模型」，有助於提早篩選出阿茲海默症的前期病患。台灣即將邁入超高齡化社會，科學化、精準化的失智早期診斷工具真的太重要了！...

中醫大新竹附醫攜手清大腦波診斷助揪早期阿茲海默症記者彭新茹∕新竹報導「我才58歲，怎麼會得失智症？」一位竹科企業CEO，長年帶領上…

Brain, Cognition, and Computation underlying Human Behavior

In ABC, we apply multimodal neuroimaging (e.g. functional, structural, diffusion, resting-state, spectroscopy magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and electroencephalogram data) in humans to investigate brain functioning across the lifespan. We are interested in linking behavioral and neuroplastic changes in ways that allow us to test theoretically grounded hypotheses about cognitive development, particularly in representational processing and functional organization in the prefrontal cortex. Specifically, we focus on neural circuits that subserve how the different stages of human actions and movements shape goal-directed and stimuli-driven human performance. We aim to discover how actions are selected, planned, optimized, and executed. To achieve this, we employed psychophysics experiments, neuropsychological testing, and brain imaging tools to model how the brain's structural and functional network connectivities are modulated by volitional action.

Brain-Behavior Relations in Elite Athletes: From Sports Neuroscience to Performance

Ever since there have been sports, there has been training for sports. Training methods have continued to evolve over time, and athletes, particularly elite athletes, are always on the cusp of new training theories and technology. Our research explores the human capabilities in sports that interact with human brain activities, for example, responses to visual stimuli such as perception. The ABC lab aims to identify what is needed for optimal cognitive perception and then discuss possible training methods to improve those abilities in high-level athletes. The research questions we asked are how athletes can sharpen their abilities from the neck up by strengthening cognitive skills. How can an athlete improve his/her perceptual-cognitive abilities?

ABOUT People | 實驗室成員

姚在府博士 | Zai-Fu Yao Ph.D

職位 | Position:

202502-present Associate Director | Research Center for Education and Mind Sciences

202502-present Adjunct Associate Professor | Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling

202502-present Adjunct Associate Professor | Department of Kinesiology

202502-present Adjunct Associate Professor | Ph.D. Program in Precision Medicine

National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

經歷 | Experience:

2025-present Consulting Editor, Biological Psychology

2023-present Review Editor, Neurocognitive Aging and Behavior Section of Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

2025- 台灣心理學會副秘書長 | Deputy Secretary-General, Taiwanese Psychological Association (TPA)

202208-202502 國立清華大學教育學院(主聘)、院學士班、教育與心智科學研究中心、運動科學系(合聘)、教育心理與諮商學系(合聘)、精準醫療博士學位學程(合聘)助理教授 | Assistant Professor, College of Education & Research Center for Education and Mind Sciences, Department of Kinesiology, and Department of Educational Psychology (Jointly appointed) and Counseling (Jointly appointed), Precision Medicine at National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu City, Taiwan.

202108-202207 臺北市立大學競技運動訓練研究所助理教授 | Assistant Professor, Graduate Institute of Sports Training, University of Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan.

201703-201907 Ph.D. Researcher, Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging, The Academic Medical Center, the university hospital affiliated with the University of Amsterdam.

最高學歷 | Education: 荷蘭阿姆斯特丹大學 心理學研究院腦與認知科學研究組博士 | Ph.D. from Brain and Cognition group, Psychology Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands (under supervision of prof. K.R. Ridderinkhof & dr. I.G. Sligte)

Research Assistant

陳建宇

黃黎桓

Doctoral Students

郭姵祺 Pei-Chi Kuo (Peggy)

王靖烽 (Jing-Fong Wang)

姚辰豫 (Chen-Yu Yao)

Master Students

林蕙蕿

林瑄

Undergraduate Students

吳欣庭

陳郁叡

范嘉尹

詹子毅

許嘉琪

蘇勻郁

Former Lab Member

黃暐庭

黃曌楓

周煒瑄

李美昀

范軒豪

劉田元

梁語軒

鄭昕然

陳威揚

陳名愷

林欣億 (工工系)

蔣喬同 (NCCU)

梁碧瑤

尹燕詠

張容慈

林瑄

陳俠君

辜宇禎

周煒瑄

趙雪兒

彭昫

龔姿云

周靖彤

王俊斌

唐翊雯

陳郁叡

陳亭琪

Research | 研究方向

General:

The frontal lobe connectomics (額葉網絡連結體).
Psychological resilience (心理韌力).
Statistical human neuroimaging (統計神經影像分析).
Visual perception and executive functions (視知覺與執行功能).

Elite Sports:

Fatigue and recovery in sports (運動疲勞恢復機制).
Sports-training related concussion (競技運動訓練相關的腦震盪機制).
Sensorimotor Skills Learning and Training
Sports informatics and analytics 運動資訊

Publications | 研究成果

Peer-Reviewed Journal Papers

Wang, J. F., Yao, Z. F., & Wang, T. H. (2025). Distinct P300 of cognitive load during problem presentation and response evaluation in an arithmetic verification task. Biological psychology, 201, 109127. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2025.109127

Yao, ZF., Yang, MH. & Hsieh, S. Neural correlates of span capacity during visual discrimination under varying cognitive demands. Sci Rep 15, 31071 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-17003-3

Ding, T. J., Hsu, H. Y., Yao, C. Y., & Yao, Z. F. (2025). The Cognitive Mechanisms of Spatial Perspective Taking in Map Reading. Biological psychology, 109087. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2025.109087

Hsieh, S., Yang, M. H., & Yao, Z. F. (2025). Prefrontal overrecruitment in older adults: Task demand-dependent efficiency and implications for cognitive aging. Psychology and aging, 10.1037/pag0000920. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/pag0000920

Yao, Z.-F., & Hsieh, S. (2025). Amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex activations during emotional Stroop and self-negativity appraisal are associated with trait resilience. Personality and Individual Differences, 246, 113295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2025.113295

Kuo, P. C., & Yao, Z. F. (2025). Amygdala hyperactivation in childhood maltreatment: An ALE-based meta-analysis on emotion-related processing. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, 174, 106180. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106180

Hsu, J.-H.; Lin, H.-L.; Fan Chiang, H.-C.; Lee, D.-S.; Lee, Y.; Huang, C.-W.; Yao, Z.-F. Optimizing Performance in Badminton Tournaments: The Relationship Between Timing, Quantity, and Quality Among Professional Players. J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10, 5. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10010005

Yao, Z. F., Sligte, I. G., & Ridderinkhof, R. (2024). Olympic team rowers and team swimmers show altered functional brain activation during working memory and action inhibition. Neuropsychologia, 108974. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.108974

Yao ZF, Fu HL, Liang CW, Li YJ, Wang CH. Electrophysiological differences in inhibitory control processing between collegiate level soccer players and non-athletes in the absence of performance differences. Brain and Cognition. 2024 May;178:106179. DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2024.106179. PMID: 38788319.

Tam, C. K., & Yao, Z. F. (2024). Advancing 100m sprint performance prediction: A machine learning approach to velocity curve modeling and performance correlation. PloS one, 19(5), e0303366. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303366

Hsu J-H, Fan Chiang H-C, Lin H-L, Lee D-S, Yao Z-F. Early Bloomer and Future Master: Getting to the Top of the Modern Badminton World. Applied Sciences. 2024; 14(7):2894. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14072894

Chang, J.R., Yao, ZF., Hsieh, S. et al. Age Prediction Using Resting-State Functional MRI. Neuroinform (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12021-024-09653-x

Hsieh S, Chang Y-H, Yao Z-F, Yang M-H and Yang C-T (2024) The effect of age and resilience on the dose–response function between the number of adversity factors and subjective well-being. Front. Psychol. 15:1332124. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1332124

Yao, ZF., Yang, MH., Yang, CT. et al. The role of attitudes towards contradiction in psychological resilience: the cortical mechanism of conflicting resolution networks. Sci Rep 14, 1669 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-51722-3

Yao, Z. F., Hsieh, S., & Yang, M. H. (2023). Exercise habits and mental health: Exploring the significance of multimodal imaging markers. Progress in Brain Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/BS.PBR.2023.11.001

Z-F Yao, I G Sligte, K R Ridderinkhof, A-71 Olympic team rowers and team swimmers show altered functional brain activation during working memory and action inhibition, Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, Volume 38, Issue 5, August 2023, Page 873, https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acad042.71

Chang Y-H, Yang M-H, Yao Z-F, Tsai M-C, Hsieh S. The Mediating Role of Brain Structural Imaging Markers in Connecting Adverse Childhood Experiences and Psychological Resilience. Children. 2023; 10(2):365. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10020365

Hsieh, S., Yang, M. H., & Yao, Z. F. (2023). Age differences in the functional organization of the prefrontal cortex: analyses of competing hypotheses. Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991), 33(7), 4040–4055. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhac325

Chen, Y. L., Hsu, J. H., Tai, D. H., & Yao, Z. F*. (2022). Training-Associated Superior Visuomotor Integration Performance in Elite Badminton Players after Adjusting for Cardiovascular Fitness. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(1), 468. (Link)

Z.-F. Yao, S Hsieh. (2021) Age differences of the hierarchical cognitive control and the frontal rostro-caudal functional brain activation. Cerebral Cortex (Link) (Cover!)

Yao, Z.-F.* (2021) Neurocognitive Mechanisms of Elite Sports: bridging brain and cognition in sports. Archived in the University of Amsterdam's Digital Academic Repository (UvA-DARE). (Publicly available online) (Link) doctoral dissertation under supervision by Prof. K.R. Ridderinkhof & dr. I.G. Sligte.

S Hsieh, Z.-F. Yao, M.-H. Yang, Multimodal Imaging Analysis Reveals Frontal-Associated Networks in Relation to Individual Resilience Strength (2021) Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. (Link)

Hsu H. -M , Yao, Z.-F, Hwang K, S Hsieh (2020) Between-module functional connectivity of the salient ventral attention network and dorsal attention network is associated with motor inhibition. PLoS one (LINK)

Yao Z.-F, IG Sligte, D Moreau, S Hsieh, CT Yang, K. R.Ridderinkhof, N. G. Muggleton, Chun-Hao Wang (2020) The brains of elite soccer players are subject to experience-dependent alterations in white matter connectivity. Cortex (LINK)

Yao, Z.-F, Yang, M.-H, Hsieh S (2020) Brain structural-behavioral correlates underlying Grooved Pegboard Test performance across lifespan. Journal of Motor Behavior (Link)

Yao, Z.-F, Yang, M.-H, Hwang K, Hsieh S (2020) Frontoparietal structural properties mediate adult life span differences in executive function. Scientific Reports (Link)

S Hsieh, ZF Yao, MH Yang, CT Yang, CH Wang (2020). Diffusion Tensor Imaging Revealing the Relation of Age-Related Differences in the Corpus Callosum With Cognitive Style. Frontiers in human neuroscience 14, 285 (Link)

Yao, Z.-F & Hsieh S (2019) Neurocognitive mechanism of human resilience: a conceptual framework and empirical review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Link)

Meng, F.-W, Yao, Z.-F, Chang, E. C., Chen, Y.-L (2019) Team sport expertise shows superior stimulus-driven visual attention and motor inhibition. PLoS One (Link)

Yang, M.-H, Yao, Z.-F, Hsieh S (2019) Multimodal neuroimaging analysis reveals age‐associated common and discrete cognitive control constructs. Human brain mapping (Link)

Liang, Y.-M., Chen, K.-J., Yao, Z.-F.*(2016) The Difference of Iconic Memory Performance among Swimmer, Basketball Sports Athletes, and Non-Athletes. Chinese Journal of Chiayi University Physical Education, Health & Recreation Studies (ISSN:1815-7319) (Link)

Yao, Z.-F.* (2016) Diversity and Commonality of Cognitive Profile among Static, Strategic and Interceptive Sports-Expertise. Collection in National Central University Library Institutional Repository (NCULR) (Link)

Chang, E. C., & Yao, Z.-F.* (2015) Brain than Brawn: From Neuroimaging Perspectives On Physical Exercise and Cognition. Humanities and Social Sciences Newsletter Quarterly, 16(4), 90-97. (Link) master thesis under supervision by dr. Erik Chang

Yao, Z.-F.*, & Yao, R.-H. (2014) Barrier-Free and Accessible in Public for Disabled People: Mobile Urinate System with Wheelchair. The Chinese Journal of Assistive Technology, 34, 63-69. (Link)

Domestic Journal Papers

許慧玉、于靖、丁志堅、姚在府、潘柏宇 (2025) 數學教育的神經革命：腦科學新興技術之理論與實務應用 (The Neuroscience Revolution in Mathematics Education: Theoretical and Practical Applications of Emerging Brain Technologies)。臺灣數學教育期刊，12(1)，109 - 124。https://doi.org/10.6278/tjme.202504_12(1).004

姚在府（2025）。菁英運動員的腦網絡基因影像圖譜：敘述性綜論 (Mapping multimodal brain imaging genetics of sports training and performances in elite athletes: a narrative review)。中華體育季刊，39(1)，55-87。https://doi.org/10.6223/qcpe.202503_39(1).0005

張焜棠 Chang, K-T.、姚在府 Yao, Z.-F.、楊政達 Yang, C.-T.（2022）。疫情下身體活動的新型態與新策略。中華體育季刊，36(2)，93-108。https://doi.org/10.6223%2fqcpe.202206_36(2).0001

梁衍明 Liang, Y-M.、陳冠錦 Chen, G-J.、姚在府 Yao, Z.-F.（2016）。策略性及靜態性運動員在影像記憶表現上之差異。嘉大體育健康休閒期刊，15(1)，1-14。https://doi.org/10.6169%2fNCYUJPEHR.15.1.01

張智宏 Chang, E. C-H、姚在府 Yao, Z.-F. (2015) 。四肢發達，頭腦不簡單：腦造影觀點下的運動與認知。人文與社會科學簡訊，90-97。https://www.nstc.gov.tw/nstc/attachments/bfc96790-bc32-4d90-911c-6a9d317e8484

Conference Abstracts

THE INFLUENCE OF LANGUAGE IN INTERPRETING MATHEMATICAL EQUATION: AN ERP STUDY. (2025) Chen, Yu; Lai, Wei-Jung; Yao, Zai-Fu; Ding, Tsu-Jen; Yao, Chen-Yu; Hsu, Hui-Yu. 48th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME 48) July 28 - August 2, 2025, Santiago, Chile

UNDERSTANDING STUDENTS’ READING COMPREHENSION OF REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS UTILIZING ERP TECHNIQUES (2025). Lai, Wei Jung; Chen, Yu; Hsu, Hui-Yu; Yao, Zai-Fu; Yao, Chen-Yu; Ding, Tsu-Jen. 48th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME 48) July 28 - August 2, 2025, Santiago, Chile

T Ding, HY Hsu, PC Kuo, CY Yao, Zai-Fu, Yao, BY Pan (2025) Learnable Frequency-Weighting Layer for Improving EEG-Based BCI Performance. Present at 2025 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC), October 5-8, 2025 Vienna, Austria.

Shin-Yi Lin & Zai-Fu Yao (2024) The acute exercise-induced changes on structural brain volumes in obese children: a preliminary study. Presented at The International Conference for Asian Sports and Exercise of Innovation and Prospects, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (June 22 to 23). *Best Poster Award.

Zai-Fu Yao (2024) 1554 - Interceptive sports exhibit stronger connectivity strength in the frontoparietal network during rest. Presented in OHBM, Seoul, Korea (June 23 - June 27). LINK

Z-F Yao, I G Sligte, K R Ridderinkhof, A-71 Olympic team rowers and team swimmers show altered functional brain activation during working memory and action inhibition, Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, Volume 38, Issue 5, August 2023, Page 873, https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acad042.71

Z-F Yao, I G Sligte, K R Ridderinkhof, Olympic team rowers and team swimmers show altered functional brain activation during working memory and action inhibition, Presented in the 13th International Conference on Cognitive Science (ICCS), Seoul, Korea (23-25, August 2023).

Yao, Z.-F., Yang, M. H., & Hsieh, S.* (2021). Age-related manual dexterity declines are associated with reduced white matter integrity, Poster presentation at 32nd International Congress of Psychology, held on July 18 - 23, 2021 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Yao, Z.-F., Yang, M. H., & Hsieh, S.* (2020). Age-related manual dexterity declines associated with reduced white matter integrity in baseline and follow-up sessions have previously been accepted for presentation at ISG's 12th World Conference. The virtual conference to be held on October 6th – 9th, 2020.

Yao, Z.-F., Yang, M. H., & Hsieh, S.* (2020). Age-related decline in manual dexterity are associated with visuomotor tracking ability and white matter integrity, Poster presentation at the 2020 CNS Annual meeting, held on May 02-05, 2020 in Boston, MA, USA.

Yao, Z.-F *, Yang, M.-H, Hsieh S. (2019, Mar 23-26) Multimodal neuroimaging data are associated with common and discrete cognitive control constructs. The 26th Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS) annual meeting in San Francisco, USA. Link

Yao, Z. –F*., Moreau, D., Hsieh, S., Yang, C. T., Tsai, C. L., Ridderinkho, K. R., Sligte, I. G., & Wang, C. H. (2017, Dec 14-16). Elite soccer players exhibit stronger connectivity in fronto-striatal-cerebellar network during rest. 2017 Annual Winter Conference of Dutch Society for Psychonomic, Egmond, The Netherlands. Link Poster

Yao, Z.-F*, Liang, Y.-M, Chen, G.-J, Chiou, Y.-H, and Chang, E.C. (2015, November) Diversity of Perceptual-Cognitive Performance between Static, Strategic and Interceptive Sports-Expertise: A Preliminary Report. Poster presented at 2015 Psychonomic Society's 56th Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois U.S.A. Link Poster

Yao, Z.-F. *, & Liang, Y.-M. (2015, June).The difference of Perceptual-Cognitive Performance in Elite Swimmers and Non-athletes. Oral presentation accepted by the 2015 2th International Conference on Exercise and Health & the 4th National Teaching Conference on Kinesiology. Guangzhou, China. Link

Yao, Z.-F.*, & Chang, E. C. (2014, November). Effects of Ageing on Cognitive Control and Visual Search. Poster to be presented at the 2014 1st Annual Meeting of the Joint Research Centre for Language Human Complexity. Hong Kong, China. Link Poster

Yao, Z.-F.*, & Chang, E. C. (2014, November). Influence of Ageing and Physical Activity on Cognitive Control and Visual Search. Oral presentation accepted by the 2014 53rd Annual Meeting of the Taiwanese Psychology Association. Taipei, Taiwan. Link

Ad-hoc peer-review Journal’s reviewer/guest editor

Aging; Frontiers in Human Neuroscience; International Journal of Sports Psychology; Quarterly of Chinese Physical Education; Biological Psychology; Frontiers in Psychology, section Cognition; Adaptive Medicine; International Journal of Psychophysiology; Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports; Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (Review Editor) section Neurocognitive Aging and Behavior; European Journal of Neuroscience; Neurobiology of Aging; Journal of Intelligence; Brain and Cognition; Psychophysiology; Brain Structure and Function; Scientific Reports; Acta Psychologica, Mental Health and Physical Activity, Heliyon, NeuroImage, Brain Imaging and Behavior, Behavioral and Brain Functions, Brain Sciences, BioMed, International Journal of Biometeorology, Neuroscience Insights, NeuroImage: Clinical, BMC Neurology, Frontiers in Public Health, Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Psychology of Sport & Exercise, Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Physiology & Behavior, Brain Research Bulletin, One Health, Journal of Environmental Psychology, Communications Biology, European Journal of Sport Science, JMIR Serious Games ...

Invited talks

2024 Bilateral Symposium on Brain Research at NIH in Washington DC, USA

台灣大學高齡大腦心智科學論壇

台灣大學心理學系

台灣大學身體、心靈與文化整合影像研究中心fMRI 教育講習課程Ｉ

台灣大學身體、心靈與文化整合影像研究中心fMRI 教育講習課程II

臺北醫學大學心智意識與腦科學研究所

臺北市立大學競技運動訓練研究所

國立彰化師範大學運動科學系

國立成功大學體育健康與休閒研究所

Members of Professional Societies

Sport Neuropsychology Society (2023-present), Human Brain Mapping (2024-present), American Psychological Association (2024-present), Chinese Taipei Surfing Association (2022-present), International Mind, Brain and Education Society (IMBES), Cognitive Science Society, Cognitive Neuroscience Society, Psychonomic Society (2015-present), European Brain and Behaviour Society, Taiwan Society of Cognitive Neuroscience (2014-present). The International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP), The European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI) (2025-), International Society for Neurochemistry, The Society for Philosophy & Neuroscience.

Patents

2016 Jen-Huo Yao, Liang-Chu Yao, Hsiao-Chang Yao, Zai-Fu Yao, Chih-Min Yao “Wheelchair with urinal device” U.S. Patent No. US20160038356A1

2015 Hsiao-Chang Yao, Liang-Chu Yao, Chih-Min Yao, Zai-Fu Yao, Jen-Huo Yao.;” Pants for person with limited mobility” U.S. Patent No. 20150157063 A1

2014 Jen-Huo Yao, Liang-Chu Yao, Hsiao-Chang Yao, Zai-Fu Yao, Chih-Min Yao.;” Chair with Urinal Device” U.S. Patent No. 20140352050A1

Supervised undergraduate projects (finalized)

林瑄, Husan Lin (2024) Spatial Frequency Filtering Model and the Performance of Non-Photorealistic Images in Emotional Memory. PDF

陳威揚, Wei-Yang Chen (2024) Pacing the Internal Clock: The Role of Affective Priming in Time Perception. PDF

趙雪兒, Xue-Er Zhao (2023) Emotional Priming and Inhibitory Control: The Impact of Subjective Cognitive Appraisals on Mental Health Status. PDF

CONTACT US | 聯絡我們

If you are interested in working with me. Drop me an email to zfyao"at"mx.nthu.edu.com

Lab Location | 實驗室地點

Room 711, 7th Floor, Education Building, Main Campus (Kuang-Fu), National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.

email: abclab"at"gapp.nthu.edu.tw

Keywords: Sports training, Cognitive neuroscience, Aging, Athlete, MRI, 運動員, 競技運動訓練, 腦與認知, 老化, 運動員, 磁振造影

Last updated June 2022

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ABOUT ABC | 關於我們

Brain, Cognition, and Computation underlying Human Behavior

Brain-Behavior Relations in Elite Athletes: From Sports Neuroscience to Performance

ABOUT People | 實驗室成員

姚在府 博士 | Zai-Fu Yao Ph.D

最高學歷 | Education: 荷蘭阿姆斯特丹大學心理學研究院腦與認知科學研究組博士 | Ph.D. from Brain and Cognition group, Psychology Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands (under supervision of prof. K.R. Ridderinkhof & dr. I.G. Sligte)

Research Assistant

Doctoral Students

Master Students

林瑄

Undergraduate Students

Former Lab Member

Research | 研究方向

Publications | 研究成果

Peer-Reviewed Journal Papers

Wang, J. F., Yao, Z. F., & Wang, T. H. (2025). Distinct P300 of cognitive load during problem presentation and response evaluation in an arithmetic verification task. Biological psychology, 201, 109127. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2025.109127

Yao, ZF., Yang, MH. & Hsieh, S. Neural correlates of span capacity during visual discrimination under varying cognitive demands. Sci Rep 15, 31071 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-17003-3

Ding, T. J., Hsu, H. Y., Yao, C. Y., & Yao, Z. F. (2025). The Cognitive Mechanisms of Spatial Perspective Taking in Map Reading. Biological psychology, 109087. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2025.109087

Yao, Z.-F., & Hsieh, S. (2025). Amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex activations during emotional Stroop and self-negativity appraisal are associated with trait resilience. Personality and Individual Differences, 246, 113295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2025.113295

Kuo, P. C., & Yao, Z. F. (2025). Amygdala hyperactivation in childhood maltreatment: An ALE-based meta-analysis on emotion-related processing. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, 174, 106180. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106180

Hsu, J.-H.; Lin, H.-L.; Fan Chiang, H.-C.; Lee, D.-S.; Lee, Y.; Huang, C.-W.; Yao, Z.-F. Optimizing Performance in Badminton Tournaments: The Relationship Between Timing, Quantity, and Quality Among Professional Players. J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10, 5. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10010005

Yao, Z. F., Sligte, I. G., & Ridderinkhof, R. (2024). Olympic team rowers and team swimmers show altered functional brain activation during working memory and action inhibition. Neuropsychologia, 108974. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.108974

Yao ZF, Fu HL, Liang CW, Li YJ, Wang CH. Electrophysiological differences in inhibitory control processing between collegiate level soccer players and non-athletes in the absence of performance differences. Brain and Cognition. 2024 May;178:106179. DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2024.106179. PMID: 38788319.

Tam, C. K., & Yao, Z. F. (2024). Advancing 100m sprint performance prediction: A machine learning approach to velocity curve modeling and performance correlation. PloS one, 19(5), e0303366. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303366

Hsu J-H, Fan Chiang H-C, Lin H-L, Lee D-S, Yao Z-F. Early Bloomer and Future Master: Getting to the Top of the Modern Badminton World. Applied Sciences. 2024; 14(7):2894. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14072894

Chang, J.R., Yao, ZF., Hsieh, S. et al. Age Prediction Using Resting-State Functional MRI. Neuroinform (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12021-024-09653-x

Hsieh S, Chang Y-H, Yao Z-F, Yang M-H and Yang C-T (2024) The effect of age and resilience on the dose–response function between the number of adversity factors and subjective well-being. Front. Psychol. 15:1332124. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1332124

Yao, ZF., Yang, MH., Yang, CT. et al. The role of attitudes towards contradiction in psychological resilience: the cortical mechanism of conflicting resolution networks. Sci Rep 14, 1669 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-51722-3

Yao, Z. F., Hsieh, S., & Yang, M. H. (2023). Exercise habits and mental health: Exploring the significance of multimodal imaging markers. Progress in Brain Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/BS.PBR.2023.11.001

Z-F Yao, I G Sligte, K R Ridderinkhof, A-71 Olympic team rowers and team swimmers show altered functional brain activation during working memory and action inhibition, Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, Volume 38, Issue 5, August 2023, Page 873, https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acad042.71

Chang Y-H, Yang M-H, Yao Z-F, Tsai M-C, Hsieh S. The Mediating Role of Brain Structural Imaging Markers in Connecting Adverse Childhood Experiences and Psychological Resilience. Children. 2023; 10(2):365. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10020365

Hsieh, S., Yang, M. H., & Yao, Z. F. (2023). Age differences in the functional organization of the prefrontal cortex: analyses of competing hypotheses. Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991), 33(7), 4040–4055. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhac325

Chen, Y. L., Hsu, J. H., Tai, D. H., & Yao, Z. F*. (2022). Training-Associated Superior Visuomotor Integration Performance in Elite Badminton Players after Adjusting for Cardiovascular Fitness. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(1), 468. (Link)

Z.-F. Yao, S Hsieh. (2021) Age differences of the hierarchical cognitive control and the frontal rostro-caudal functional brain activation. Cerebral Cortex (Link) (Cover!)

S Hsieh, Z.-F. Yao, M.-H. Yang, Multimodal Imaging Analysis Reveals Frontal-Associated Networks in Relation to Individual Resilience Strength (2021) Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. (Link)

Hsu H. -M , Yao, Z.-F, Hwang K, S Hsieh (2020) Between-module functional connectivity of the salient ventral attention network and dorsal attention network is associated with motor inhibition. PLoS one (LINK)

Yao Z.-F, IG Sligte, D Moreau, S Hsieh, CT Yang, K. R.Ridderinkhof, N. G. Muggleton, Chun-Hao Wang (2020) The brains of elite soccer players are subject to experience-dependent alterations in white matter connectivity. Cortex (LINK)

Yao, Z.-F, Yang, M.-H, Hsieh S (2020) Brain structural-behavioral correlates underlying Grooved Pegboard Test performance across lifespan. Journal of Motor Behavior (Link)

Yao, Z.-F, Yang, M.-H, Hwang K, Hsieh S (2020) Frontoparietal structural properties mediate adult life span differences in executive function. Scientific Reports (Link)

S Hsieh, ZF Yao, MH Yang, CT Yang, CH Wang (2020). Diffusion Tensor Imaging Revealing the Relation of Age-Related Differences in the Corpus Callosum With Cognitive Style. Frontiers in human neuroscience 14, 285 (Link)

Yao, Z.-F & Hsieh S (2019) Neurocognitive mechanism of human resilience: a conceptual framework and empirical review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Link)

Meng, F.-W, Yao, Z.-F, Chang, E. C., Chen, Y.-L (2019) Team sport expertise shows superior stimulus-driven visual attention and motor inhibition. PLoS One (Link)

Yang, M.-H, Yao, Z.-F, Hsieh S (2019) Multimodal neuroimaging analysis reveals age‐associated common and discrete cognitive control constructs. Human brain mapping (Link)

Liang, Y.-M., Chen, K.-J., Yao, Z.-F.*(2016) The Difference of Iconic Memory Performance among Swimmer, Basketball Sports Athletes, and Non-Athletes. Chinese Journal of Chiayi University Physical Education, Health & Recreation Studies (ISSN:1815-7319) (Link)

Chang, E. C., & Yao, Z.-F.* (2015) Brain than Brawn: From Neuroimaging Perspectives On Physical Exercise and Cognition. Humanities and Social Sciences Newsletter Quarterly, 16(4), 90-97. (Link) master thesis under supervision by dr. Erik Chang

Yao, Z.-F.*, & Yao, R.-H. (2014) Barrier-Free and Accessible in Public for Disabled People: Mobile Urinate System with Wheelchair. The Chinese Journal of Assistive Technology, 34, 63-69. (Link)

Domestic Journal Papers

姚在府（2025）。菁英運動員的腦網絡基因影像圖譜：敘述性綜論 (Mapping multimodal brain imaging genetics of sports training and performances in elite athletes: a narrative review)。中華體育季刊，39(1)，55-87。https://doi.org/10.6223/qcpe.202503_39(1).0005

張焜棠 Chang, K-T.、姚在府 Yao, Z.-F.、楊政達 Yang, C.-T.（2022）。疫情下身體活動的新型態與新策略。中華體育季刊，36(2)，93-108。https://doi.org/10.6223%2fqcpe.202206_36(2).0001

梁衍明 Liang, Y-M.、陳冠錦 Chen, G-J.、姚在府 Yao, Z.-F.（2016）。策略性及靜態性運動員在影像記憶表現上之差異。嘉大體育健康休閒期刊，15(1)，1-14。https://doi.org/10.6169%2fNCYUJPEHR.15.1.01

張智宏 Chang, E. C-H、姚在府 Yao, Z.-F. (2015) 。四肢發達，頭腦不簡單：腦造影觀點下的運動與認知。人文與社會科學簡訊，90-97。https://www.nstc.gov.tw/nstc/attachments/bfc96790-bc32-4d90-911c-6a9d317e8484

Conference Abstracts

T Ding, HY Hsu, PC Kuo, CY Yao, Zai-Fu, Yao, BY Pan (2025) Learnable Frequency-Weighting Layer for Improving EEG-Based BCI Performance. Present at 2025 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC), October 5-8, 2025 Vienna, Austria.

Shin-Yi Lin & Zai-Fu Yao (2024) The acute exercise-induced changes on structural brain volumes in obese children: a preliminary study. Presented at The International Conference for Asian Sports and Exercise of Innovation and Prospects, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (June 22 to 23). *Best Poster Award.

Zai-Fu Yao (2024) 1554 - Interceptive sports exhibit stronger connectivity strength in the frontoparietal network during rest. Presented in OHBM, Seoul, Korea (June 23 - June 27). LINK

Z-F Yao, I G Sligte, K R Ridderinkhof, A-71 Olympic team rowers and team swimmers show altered functional brain activation during working memory and action inhibition, Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, Volume 38, Issue 5, August 2023, Page 873, https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acad042.71

Z-F Yao, I G Sligte, K R Ridderinkhof, Olympic team rowers and team swimmers show altered functional brain activation during working memory and action inhibition, Presented in the 13th International Conference on Cognitive Science (ICCS), Seoul, Korea (23-25, August 2023).

Yao, Z.-F., Yang, M. H., & Hsieh, S.* (2021). Age-related manual dexterity declines are associated with reduced white matter integrity, Poster presentation at 32nd International Congress of Psychology, held on July 18 - 23, 2021 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Yao, Z.-F., Yang, M. H., & Hsieh, S.* (2020). Age-related decline in manual dexterity are associated with visuomotor tracking ability and white matter integrity, Poster presentation at the 2020 CNS Annual meeting, held on May 02-05, 2020 in Boston, MA, USA.

Yao, Z.-F *, Yang, M.-H, Hsieh S. (2019, Mar 23-26) Multimodal neuroimaging data are associated with common and discrete cognitive control constructs. The 26th Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS) annual meeting in San Francisco, USA. Link

Yao, Z.-F. *, & Liang, Y.-M. (2015, June).The difference of Perceptual-Cognitive Performance in Elite Swimmers and Non-athletes. Oral presentation accepted by the 2015 2th International Conference on Exercise and Health & the 4th National Teaching Conference on Kinesiology. Guangzhou, China. Link

Yao, Z.-F.*, & Chang, E. C. (2014, November). Effects of Ageing on Cognitive Control and Visual Search. Poster to be presented at the 2014 1st Annual Meeting of the Joint Research Centre for Language Human Complexity. Hong Kong, China. Link Poster

Yao, Z.-F.*, & Chang, E. C. (2014, November). Influence of Ageing and Physical Activity on Cognitive Control and Visual Search. Oral presentation accepted by the 2014 53rd Annual Meeting of the Taiwanese Psychology Association. Taipei, Taiwan. Link

Ad-hoc peer-review Journal’s reviewer/guest editor

Invited talks

Members of Professional Societies

Patents

Supervised undergraduate projects (finalized)

CONTACT US | 聯絡我們

Lab Location | 實驗室地點

姚在府博士 | Zai-Fu Yao Ph.D