Principle Investigator

Hello there, my name is Paul Z. Cheng. I am a Ph.D. candidate who has been working with Dr. Hsu since my master's in 2017. Having been interested in dialectic philosophy and cognitive science since my undergraduate studies, my work since has been focused on using neuroimaging techniques to map the self-related brain network. Also, I am curious about how alterations, such as overly self-focusing thoughts, in this network may affect our thoughts, such as depressive or ruminating thoughts. On the computational side, I am a Python programming enthusiast who finds the language friendly and aesthetic, and fascinated by the ideals of the open source community. During my personal time, I love to decompress with activities such as weight lifting, hiking, meditation, and performing a tea ceremony.

PhD student

I am Risa Dwi Ratnasari, a PhD student in Dr. Tzu-Yu Hsu’s lab.. With a background in psychology, my research interest is primarily focused on uncovering the neural activity underlying different cognitive states. In my current project, Dr. Hsu and I are conducting EEG experiments to examine the neural dynamics between internally and externally driven thought processing.

PhD student, MD

Master student

I'm Robin, a master's student in GIMBC, Taipei Medical University, studying the neural mechanisms underlying conscious and unconscious visual processing. My research investigates whether conscious and unconscious perception share similar neural pathways and how these differ across brain regions. Using visual stimuli that range from clearly visible to imperceptible, I examine how stable neural representations form in early visual areas and how frontoparietal activity enables conscious awareness. This work aims to advance our understanding of consciousness and clarify how the brain's hierarchical organization shapes subjective visual experience.

interns (PhD student from Tohoku university, Japan)

My research examines attitudes toward body hair and hair removal practices across genders, exploring how beauty ideals, self-image, and social norms influence appearance choices. Conducted primarily in Taiwan and Japan, this work investigates the psychological mechanisms behind appearance-related behaviors and their connection to gender equality and evolving beauty standards. The research aims to foster healthier relationships between self-perception and idealized body image in East Asian contexts.

interns (Master student from Justus Liebig Universität, Gießen)

I’m a Turkish Master’s student in Germany, currently interning in Professor Hsu’s Lab. I’m interested in the paradox of the self—how something so fluid can feel stable—and how it changes in altered states of consciousness or in conditions like depression and bipolar disorder. I’m analysing EEG data from patients with depression, focusing on neuronal avalanches, cascades of brain activity that show how neurons coordinate. My aim is to see whether these avalanches differ in depression and what that might reveal about brain dynamics. Outside the lab, I like to juggle and search for inanimate objects that look like faces.

I am a research assistant in the lab. My work involves running behavioural, EEG, and MEG experiments, analysing data, and collecting experimental data at the hospital. I like to think of myself as the lab's "little elf," helping to keep things running smoothly while learning and working with lab members. Outside the lab, I enjoy sports, reading, and exploring good food — especially playing basketball and badminton.

Hello, my name is Chia-Lung, Hsu, and I am currently a medical student with a strong interest in neuroscience and consciousness research. My project focuses on revisiting Libet’s classic experiment, specifically examining how proprioceptive manipulation influences the timing of volitional reports. By combining EEG, EMG, and behavioral measures, I aim to better understand the readiness potential and the subjective experience of decision-making. This study not only contributes to ongoing debates about free will but also explores modern ways of detecting spontaneous actions. Through this research, I hope to bridge neuroscience with clinical perspectives and ultimately apply these insights to medicine.

Hello, my name is Kuan-yu Chen, and I am a second-year medical student at Taipei Medical University. I have a strong interest in psychology and cognitive neuroscience research, and I am actively learning and exploring these fields. Together with Shine and Kelvin, I am currently working on a project in animal behavior research. In this study, we analyze online video materials to examine how animals respond when their owners simulate a sudden collapse.

Hello, my name is Shine, and I am a second-year medical student with a growing passion for neuroscience research. I am working together with Kuan-Yu and Kelvin on a project focusing on animal behavior research. In this study, we analyze online video to observe how animals respond when their owners pretend to collapse.