Principal Investigator

中文

Education

1. University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), postdoc

2. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (UTSW, Dallas), posrdoc

3. University of California at Berkeley, Ph. D. 2001-2007

Research Expertise

I use multimodal neuroimaging (e.g., functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Magnetoencephalography) techniques to study neural basis for abstract thinking, neural plasticity, interactions of language and other cognitive functions in healthy adults, patients, elderly and bilinguals. We also design cognitive training programs to enhance cognitive functions of people in need, especially the elderly, patients with stroke and brain injuries and to prevent further neurodegeneration. We validate the learning effects and neural change with imaging and behavioral experiments and provide data to verify current theories in cognitive science as well as serve as reference for treatment to be considered by neurologists, neurosurgeons and rehabilitation doctors.

Honor and Awards

2019 National Tsing Hua University Newly Hired Outstanding Faculty Merit Award

2013, 2014, 2015 Excellent Publication Award (4 papers)

2014 Marquis Who’s Who in the World 2015- 32th Edition

2013 National Tsing Hua University Newly Hired Outstanding Faculty Merit Award

Publications

Peer-reviewed papers:

1. Yang, F. G*, Liu, T, Liu, C., Murakami, S., Nakai, T. Verbal Training Induces Enhanced Connectivity in Temporal Regions in Japanese Healthy Elderly Population. Frontiers Human Neuroscience. 2022 Mar 3;16: https://doi.org/786853. PDF download

2. Tee B., Kwan-Chen L.L., Chen T., Yan C.Y., Tsoh J., Chan A.T., Wong A., Lo R.Y., Lu C., Wang P., Lee Y., Yang F.G., Battistella G., Allen I.E., Dronkers N.F., Miller B.L., Gorno-Tempini M.-L. Dysgraphia phenotypes in Chinese Language Users with Primary Progressive Aphasia. Neurology. 2022 Apr 11:10.1212/WNL.0000000000200350. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000200350 PDF download

3. Bal, S., Chen, K., Yang, F. G.*, Peng, G. Arterial Input Function segmentation based on a contour geodesic model for tissue at risk identification in Ischemic Stroke. Med Phys. 2022 Jan 31. doi: 10.1002/mp.15508. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35098544.

4. Bal, S., Yang, F. G.*, Sung, Y., Chen, K., Yin, J., Peng, G. Optimal Scaling approaches for Perfusion model with distorted Arterial Input Function (AIF) in patients with Ischemic Stroke. Brain Sci. 2022, 12(1):77-89. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12010077. PDF download

5. Yang, F. G., Bal, S. S., Lee, J. F.*, & Chen, C. C. White Matter Differences in Networks in Elders with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease. Brain Connect. 2021 Apr;11(3):180-188. doi: 10.1089/brain.2020.0767. Epub 2020 Sep 24. Erratum in: Brain Connect. 2021 Sep;11(7):594. PMID: 32731749. PDF download

6. Yang, F. G.*, Bal, S. S., Sung YF, Peng GS. Mathematical Framework of Deconvolution Algorithms for Quantification of Perfusion Parameters. Acta Neurol Taiwan. 2020 Sep;29(3):79-85. PMID: 32996115. PDF download

7. Wu SJ, Jenkins LM, Apple AC, Petersen J, Xiao F, Wang L, Yang F.G.* Longitudinal fMRI task reveals neural plasticity in default mode network with disrupted executive-default coupling and selective attention after traumatic brain injury. Brain Imaging Behav. 2020 Oct;14(5):1638-1650. doi: 10.1007/s11682-019-00094-8. PMID: 30937828. PDF download

8. Yang F. G., Chao AS, Lin SH, Chao A, Wang TH, Chang YL, Chang HS, Wang JJ*. Functional human brain connectivity during labor and its alteration under epidural analgesia. Brain Imaging Behav. 2020 Dec;14(6):2647-2658. doi: 10.1007/s11682-019-00216-2. PMID: 31900889. PDF download

9. Yang, F.G.* The Contributions of Language Pathways in White Matter to Linguistic and Cognitive Processing after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. J of Chinese Linguistics. 2020 Jun; 48(2): 488-516. PDF download

10. Yang, F. G.*, Wang, Y., Lin, C.P., Lin, C.M., Lai, Y. Change of neuronal pathways in Chinese speakers with non-fluent aphasia after therapy. Lingua. 2019 Jan;(218): 3-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lingua.2018.01.005 PDF download

11. Huang Y, Jiang M*, Guo Q, Wang Y, Yang F. G. Dissociation of the Confounding Influences of Expectancy and Integrative Difficulty Residing in Anomalous Sentences in Event-related Potential Studies. J Vis Exp. 2019 May 9;(147)：1-10. doi: 10.3791/59436. PMID: 31132039. PDF download

12. Huang Y, Jiang M*, Guo Q, Yang F. G. N400 amplitude does not recover from disappearance after repetitions despite reinitiated semantic integration difficulty. Neuroreport. 2018 Nov 7;29(16):1341-1348. doi: 10.1097/WNR.0000000000001108. PMID: 30096130. PDF download

13. Chiu, M., Chen, Y., Chen, T., Yang, S., Yang, F. G., Tseng, T., Chieh, J., Chen, J., Tzen, K., Hua M., Horng, H. Plasma Tau as a Window to the Brain: Negative Associations with Brain Volume and Memory Function in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early Alzheimer’s Disease. Human Brain Mapp. 2014 Jul;35(7):3132-42. doi: 10.1002/hbm.22390. Epub 2013 Oct 15. PMID: 24129926; PMCID: PMC6869439.

14. Owen, J., Li, Y., Yang, F. G., Shetty, C., Bukshpun, P., Vora, S., Wakahiro, M., Hinkley, B., Nagarajan,S., Sherr, E., Mukherjee, P., (2013). Resting State Networks and the Functional Connectome of the Human Brain in Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum. Brain Connec. 2013;3(6):547-62. doi: 10.1089/brain.2013.0175. Epub 2013 Nov 16. PMID: 24063289; PMCID: PMC3868398.

15. Yang, F. G.*, Bradley, K., Huq, M., Wu, D., & Krawczyk, D. Contextual effects on conceptual blending in metaphors: An event-related potential study. J Neurolinguistics. 2013 Mar; 26(2): 312-326. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroling.2012.10.004

16. Yang, F. G.*, Khodaparast, N., Bradley, K., Fang, M., Bernstein, A., Krawczyk, D. (2013). The Influence of Semantic Property and Grammatical Class on Semantic Selection. Brain Lang. 2013 Feb;124(2):194-203. doi: 10.1016/j.bandl.2012.12.012. Epub 2013 Jan 31. PMID: 23376367.

17. Hong, W. H.*, Chen, H.C., Yang, F. G., Wu, C.Y., Chen, C.L., &Wong, M.K. Speech-associated Labiomandibular Movement in Mandarin-S peaking Children with Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy: a kinematic study. Research in Developmental Disabilities. Res Dev Disabil. 2011 Nov-Dec;32(6):2595-601. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2011.06.016. Epub 2011 Jul 19. PMID: 21775100.

18. Li, Y.O., Yang, F. G., Nguyen, C., Cooper, S.R., Lahue, S.C., Venugopal, S., & Mukherjee, P*. Independent Component Analysis of DTI Reveals Microstructurally Correlated White Matter Networks in the Human Brain. Human Brain Mapp. 2012 Jun;33(6):1431-51. doi: 10.1002/hbm.21292. Epub 2011 May 12. PMID: 21567660; PMCID: PMC6870149.

19. Chen, C.L.*, Chen, H.C., Hong, W.H., Yang, F. G., Yang, L.Y., & Wu, C.Y. Oromotor variability in children with mild spastic cerebral palsy: a kinematic study of speech motor control. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2010 Oct 27;7:54. doi: 10.1186/1743-0003-7-54. PMID: 20979638; PMCID: PMC2988806.

20. Marquez de la Plata CD, Yang F.G., Wang JY, Krishnan K, Bakhadirov K, Paliotta C, Aslan S, Devous MD, Moore C, Harper C, McColl R, Munro Cullum C, Diaz-Arrastia R. Diffusion tensor imaging biomarkers for traumatic axonal injury: analysis of three analytic methods. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2011 Jan;17(1):24-35. doi: 10.1017/S1355617710001189. Epub 2010 Nov 12. PMID: 21070694; PMCID: PMC3097093.

21. Yang, F. G.*, Fuller, J., Khodaparast, N., & Krawczyk, D. Figurative Language Processing after Traumatic Brain Injury in Adults: A Preliminary Study. Neuropsychologia. 2010 Jun; 48 (7):1923-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.03.011

22. Yang, F. G.*, Edens, J., Simpson, C., &Krawczyk, D.C. (2009). Differences in Task Demands Influence the Hemispheric Lateralization and Neural Correlates of Metaphor. Brain Lang. 2009 Nov;111(2):114-24. doi: 10.1016/j.bandl.2009.08.006. Epub 2009 Sep 24. PMID: 19781756.

*=correspondence author

Book Chapters

1. Yang, F.*, The Application of Brain Image Big Data to Medical and Health Care. Annual Global Report on Innovation in Active, Healthy and Smart Ageing Sector (2017) (ISBN:9787530492840). Beijing, China: Beijing Science & Technology Publishing Press.

2. Yang, F.*, Chen, Y., Nakai, T., Miyakoshi, M. and Lee, C. (2017) Relationship between white matter changes and lexical retrieval during aging. Paper Collection of 2017 Annual Symposium on Biomedical Engineering and Technology. Taiwan: Biomedical Engineering Society Press. pp.246-249.

3. Yang, F.*, Lin, C., Wu, M., Tseng, C., Lin, C., Hung L., Chiang, T., Lin, S., Lai, Y., Kuo, L., Kuo, B., and Tsai, P. (2015) Neural Plasticity in Chinese Aphasics after Melodic Intonation Therapy: A DTI Study, Proc. of Auditory Research Meeting, Vol. 45, No. 7, H-2015-97. Tokyo, Japan: The Acoustical Society of Japan Press. pp.551-556.

4. Yang, F.*, Wang, C.T., Wu, D.L. (2013). Different semantic nature of homonym, metaphor and polysemy in Mandarin Chinese—Evidence from behavioral and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging experiments. In East Flows the Great River: Festschrift in Honor of Prof. William S-Y. Wang’s 80th Birthday. Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong Press.

Keynote/Focused speech

1. Investigating the Microstructural Change in relation to Linguistic Functions in Healthy Aging with Diffusion Tensor Imaging, 2015.Brain Connects, Japan, Nagoya, 2015.

2. Connectivitu of language-related networks in TBI patients:graph analysis. Brain and Spinal Cord Mapping and Image Guided Therapy, 12^th Annual World Congress of SBMT, US:Los Angeles, 2015.

3. Microstructural change in aphasic brains after the melodic intonation therapy. Taiwan-Japan Symposium on Psychological, Physiological, and Electro- Acoustics. Taiwan: Hsinchu, 2015.

Invited Talks

Invited Lectures and Colloquia

Investigation of Neural Plasticity with fMRI and DTI. Summer School of Brain and Behavioral Sciences. Polytech University, Hong Kong. Aug,2019.

Invited Symposia and Workshops

1. Enhanced Precision of Perfusion Imaging Calculation with AI: Models and Applications. Annual Meeting of Taiwan Stroke Society. Taichung, 2021.

2. Lateralization of language in the brain: typical and atypical cases. The 11th International Conference on Evolutionary Linguistics (CIEL). Shanghai, 2019.

3. Distinct conceptual relations represented by similes in bilinguals. The 10th International Conference on Evolutionary Linguistics (CIEL). Nanjing, 2018.

4. AI Medical Imaging for the Diagnosis of Neurological Diseases. Joint Conference on Medical Informatics in Taiwan 2018. Tzu Chi University. Hualian, Taiwan, 2018.

5. Neuroimaging Finding in Aphasia after Music Therapy. Buddhist Tzu chi General Hospital Hualian. Taiwan, 2017.

6. Application of Neuroimaging to Long-term Care and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Smart Medicine and Elderly Care Symposium. Taipei, 2017.

7. Rehabilitation for Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke. Buddhist Tzu chi General Hospital Taipei Branch. Taiwan, 2014.

8. Multi-models of Machine Learning in Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative and Aging Consortium. Center for Imaging of Neurodegenerative Disease. UCSF. San Francisco, 2014.

9. Neural Plasticity and Disease Characterization in Patients Revealed by Multimodal Imaging. National Health Research Institutes. Taiwan, 2014.

10. Studies of Patients with Attention Disorders by MEG. National Taiwan University, 2014.

11. Association of Resting State MEG Functional Connectivity and Visuospatial Attention Performance in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury. International symposium on the application of magnetoencephalography to social science. National Taiwan University. Taiwan, 2013.

12. Efficacy of Strategic Memory and Reasoning Training-an fMRI and machine-learning study. The Stroke Center Joint Symposium for Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Taiwan, 2013.

13. Neural Bases for Metaphor Comprehension. Academy of Science. China: Beijing, 2012.

14. Metaphor comprehension in healthy and injured brains. National Chung Cheng University. Taiwan: Chiayi, 2012.

15. Metaphor comprehension in healthy and injured brains. National Chung Cheng University. Taiwan: Chiayi, 2012.

16. Neural Basis for metaphor processing. National Chung Hsing University. Taiwan: Taichung, 2012.

17. Figurative language processing in healthy controls and patients with traumatic brain. Institute of Statistics. Academia Sinica. Taiwan: Taipei, 2012.

18. Neural basis for Semantic Ambiguity Resolution. Department of Psychology. National Chengchi University. Taiwan: Taipei, 2012.

19. Neural correlates for metaphor. The Third Symposium on Linguistics Research Methods. Graduate Institute of Linguistics. National Chengchi University. Taiwan: Taipei, 2012.

20. The Use of fMRI & DTI in Disease Characterization and Classification. Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital. Taiwan: Taipei, 2012.

21. Neural Basis for Semantic Memory and Semantic Ambiguity. Linguistic Society of Taiwan. National Taiwan University. Taiwan: Taipei, 2012.

22. Application of Neuroimaging in Clinical Research of Cognition. National Taiwan University Hospital. Taiwan: Taipei, 2012.

Conference Presentations

1. Nakai, T., Ho, E., Chen, A., Yang, F. G., Watanabe, H., Tan, M. The INCF Neuroinformatics for Aging Special Interest Group – Cooperation in neuroinformatics to accelerate validation of aging interventions. Advances in Neuroinformatics, 2017. doi:10.14931/aini2017.osii.6.

2. Yang, F. G.* Age-Related Changes in Cognitive Abilities: Combining Cognitive Training with Neuroimaging Techniques, 3, pp.105-113. In BrainConnects: the International Conference on Interdisciplinary Views and Integration in the Aging Research. Taiwan: Taichung, 2016.

3. Yang, F. G.* Enhancement of Brain Networks after Music Therapy. International Workshop on Computer Music and Audio Technology. Taiwan: Taoyuan, 2016.

4. Wang Y., Yang F. G.*., Chiang T., and Lai Y. Melodic intonation therapy as an effective facilitator of language function recovery: A DTI study in people with non-fluent aphasia. Academy of Aphasia 54^th Annual Meeting. UK, North Wales, 2016.

5. Yang, F. G.*, Chang C, LaHue S, Cooper S, Luks T, Mukherjee P. The Semantic Memory Deficits after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study. Human Brain Mapping, Switzerland, Geneva, 2016.

6. Yang, F. G.*, Lee, C., Nakai, T., Miyakoshi, M. Investigating Microstructural Change in relation to Linguistic Functions in Healthy Aging with DTI. Human Brain Mapping, Switzerland, Geneva, 2016.

7. Yang, F. G.* Investigating the Microstructural Change in relation to Linguistic Functions in Healthy Aging with Diffusion Tensor Imaging, 2, pp. 82-91. In BrainConnects. Nagoya: National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Nagoya University, 2015.

8. Lin, S., Tseng, C., Jan, H., Yang, F. G.*., Kuo, L., Krawczyk, D. Connectivity of language-related networks in TBI patients: graph analysis of functional networks. Human Brain Mapping, Honolulu, HI, 2015.

9. Yang, F. G.*, Chiu, M., Tseng, J., Chen, Y., Chen, T., Tseng, T., Chen, J., Tzen, K. Cortical and subcortical disruptions underlying memory deficits in early Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC, 2014.

10. Su, P.*, Lin, H., Yang, F. G., Wang, J., Chou, A. White and gray matter disintegrity in patients with sensorineural hearing loss, Society for Neuroscience , Washington, DC, 2014.

11. Tsai, P., Tseng, C., Yang, F. G., Lin, C., Yip, B., Lin, S., Chiang, T., Tseng, L., Hong, L., Chen, L., Kuo, L. A Functional MRI Study of the Relationship between Concise Chinese Aphasic Test Scoring and Resting State Functional Connectivity in Post-stroke Aphasia. Society for Neuroscience , Washington, DC, 2014.

12. Yang, F. G.* The Neural Enhancement in Aphasic Patients after Melodic Intonation Therapy: A DTI Study. The neural substrate of analogical reasoning in Mandarin: an fMRI study. Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Germany, Hamburg, 2014.

13. Yang, F. G.* Ambiguity type and grammatical class affect semantic selection./Disrupted White Matter in Aphasic Patients with Movement Deficits. Cognitive Neuroscience Society. Boston, MA, 2014.

14. Yang, F. G. *, Chen, A., Andrew, C., Krishnan, K., Fuller, J., Jang, J., Chapman, S., Krawzyk, D. Changes in selective neural processing following strategic learning training in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury, Cognitive Neuroscience Society, San Diego, CA, 2013.

15. Shah, M., Chen, A., Begany, K., Nycum, T., Vas, A., Yang, F. G., Krawczyk, D., D'Esposito, M.* and Chapman, S.* Targeted Cognitive Training Improves the Clarity of Neural Representation of Goal-Relevant Stimuli in Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury. American Academy of Neurology, San Diego, CA, 2013.

16. Yang, F. G.*. (2012). Impaired Figurative Language Processing in Patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: An fMRI and DTI study. The 2012 Neurobiology of Language conference (NLC). Spain: San Sebastian. October 25-27.

17. Chang, Y.C.& Yang, F. G.* (2012). Exploring Figurative Language Processing in Mandarin-English Bilinguals: An fMRI Study. The 2012 Neurobiology of Language conference (NLC). Spain: San Sebastian. October 25-27.

18. Chu, L. A., Yang, F. G.*, Luks, T. L., Lahue, S, & Mukherjee, P. (2012). Semantic Competition in TBI Patients. The 2012 Neurobiology of Language conference (NLC) . Spain: San Sebastian. October 25-27.

19. Yang, F. G.*, Ou, Y., Shi ,Y., Matsuo, K., Chen, S., Nakai, T., &Tseng, W. (2012). Diffusion Tensor Imaging of White Matter Degeneration in Aging. Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM). China: Beijing. June 10-14.

20. Chang, Y.C., Yang, F. G.*, Bradley, K., Dorner, B., Simpson, C., & Krawczyk, D. C. (2012). White Matter Disruption in Language Network After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM). China: Beijing. June 10-14.

21. Yang, F. G.*, Shih, Y.C., Fang, M. C. , Matsuo, K., Chen, S. H., Nakai, T., & Tseng, W. Y. (2012). The Voxel-Based Comparison of Fractional Anisotropy and Mean Diffusivity between the Elderly and Young Using TBSS. Annual Meeting of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM). Australia: Melbourne. May 5-11.

22. Yang, F. G.*, Wu, D. L., &Wang, C. T. (2012). The influence of semantic property and grammatical class on Mandarin semantic competition. US: Chicago. Cognitive Neuroscience Society. March 31-April 3.

23. Chu, L. A., Yang, F. G.*, Luks, T. L., Lahue, S, & Mukherjee, P. (2012). Semantic Competition in TBI Patients. Cognitive Neuroscience Society. US: Chicago. March 31-April 3.

24. Yang, F. G.*, Chen, C.L., Shih, W.Y., Fang, M.C., Wang, J.J., &Wai, Y.Y. (2011). A preliminary study of the motor imagery network in patients after stroke. Annual meeting for Neuroscience. US: Washington D.C. Nov 15-19

25. Yang, F. G.*, Lahue, S., Chu, L. A., Luks, T., &Mukherjee, P. (2011). Impaired Verbal Memory in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury. Neurobiology of Language Conference. Maryland. Nov. 10-11.

26. Yang, F. G.*, Shetty, C., Lee, H., Lahue, S., Cooper, S., Nguyenl, C., Sampatl, M., Ghajar, J., Manley, G., Venugopal, S.,& Mukherjee, P. (2011). A longnitudinal Study of White Matter Change after Traumatic Brain Injury. Annual Meeting of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM). May 6-13.

27. Yang, F. G.*, LaHue, S. C., Cooper, S. R., Heffernan, A., Mukherjee, P.,& Luks, T. (2011). fMRI Hypoactivation on a Visuospatial Attention Task after Diffuse Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Cognitive Neuroscience Society. Apr 2-7.

28. Luks, T., Yang, F. G.*, LaHue, S. C., Cooper, S. R., Heffernan, A.,& Mukherjee, P. (2011). Multifocal fMRI Hypoactivation on a Working Memory Task after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Cognitive Neuroscience Society. Apr 2-7.

*=corresponding author