Professor Feng Gangyi is an Associate Professor in Neurolinguistics and Psychology of Language. He is an awardee of China’s National Excellent Young Scientists Fund (国家级人才项目获得者：国家优秀青年科学基金项目（港澳）). He received his undergraduate and doctoral degrees in Psychology from South China Normal University. He completed his postdoctoral training in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Texas at Austin in the US. Before his current position, he was a Research Assistant Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He teaches courses in Neurolinguistics, Research Methods in Language Sciences, and Special Topics in Psycholinguistics and Neurolinguistics. Professor Feng’s research employs a range of contemporary cognitive neuroscience research approaches, including event-related potentials (ERP), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), as well as systems neuroscience techniques such as multivariate neural decoding and connectivity pattern analyses, to gain a deeper understanding of the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying language learning, speech, and lexical-semantic processing in healthy adults and clinical populations. His research has been published in many high-profile academic journals, including PNAS, the Journal of Neuroscience, Cerebral Cortex, Neuroimage, Human Brain Mapping, and Neurobiology of Language. He has received funding for his research from various external and university sources, including the General Research Fund (GRF), Collaborative Research Fund (CRF), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF), and National Institutes of Health (NIH). Students in Linguistics, Psychology, Education, Computer Science, Statistics, Engineering, or a related major are welcome to contact Prof. Feng for the Ph.D. programme application.

Research Interest

Cognitive Neuroscience of Language (Neurolinguistics), Language Sciences, Language Learning and Processing, Speech Perception, Semantic Representation

Journal Publications

1. Gan Z., Zheng L., Wang S. and Feng G.* (2023). Distribution-dependent representations in auditory category learning and generalization. Front. Psychol. (JCI Q1) 14:1132570. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1132570
2. Yuan, D., Ng, I. H. Y., Feng, G., Chang, W. T., Tong, M. C., Young, N. M., & Wong, P. C. (2023). The Extent of Hearing Input Affects the Plasticity of the Auditory Cortex in Children With Hearing Loss: A Preliminary Study. American Journal of Audiology (JCI Q2), 32(2):379-390. doi: 10.1044/2023_AJA-22-00172
3. Gan, Z., Wang, S., & Feng, G.* (2023). Functional magnetic resonance imaging data for the neural dynamics underlying the acquisition of distinct auditory categories. Data in Brief, 47, 108972.
4. Meng, D., Wang, S., Wong, P., Feng, G*. (2022). Generalizable predictive modeling of semantic processing ability from functional brain connectivity. Human Brain Mapping [JCI Q1], 43, 4274-4292.
5. Taylor, A., Zhang, F., Niu, X., Heywood, A., Stocks, J., Feng, G., Popuri, K., Beg, M.F., Wang, L., 2022. Investigating the temporal pattern of neuroimaging-based brain age estimation as a biomarker for Alzheimer’s Disease related neurodegeneration. NeuroImage [JCI Q1], 263, 119621.
6. Feng, G.*, Gan Z., Yi H., Ell, S., Wang, S., Roark, C. L., Wang, S., Wong, P. C. M., Chandrasekaran, B. (2021). Neural dynamics underlying the acquisition of distinct auditory category structures. NeuroImage [JCI Q1], 244, 118565.
7. Feng, G.*, Ou, J., Gan, Z., Jia, X., Meng, D., Wang, S., Wong, P.C.M. (2021). Neural fingerprints underlying individual language learning profiles. Journal of Neuroscience [JCI Q1], 41, 7372–7387.
8. Feng, G.*, Gan, Z., Llanos, F., Meng, D., Wang, S., Wong, P.C.M., Chandrasekaran, B. (2021). A distributed dynamic brain network mediates linguistic tone representation and categorization. NeuroImage [JCI Q1], 224, 117410.
9. Feng, G.*, Li, Y., Hsu, S-M., Wong, P.C.M., Chou, T-L., Chandrasekaran, B. (2021) Emerging native-similar neural representations underlie non-native speech category learning success. Neurobiology of Language [JCI Q2], 2, 280-307.
10. Wong, P.C.M., Lai, C.M., Chan, P.H.Y., Leung, T.F., Lam, H.S., Feng, G., Maggu, A.R., Novitskiy, N. (2021). Neural Speech Encoding in Infancy Predicts Future Language and Communication Difficulties. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology [JCI Q1], 30, 2241-2250.
11. Feng, G., Yi, H.G., Chandrasekaran, B. (2019). The role of the human auditory corticostriatal network in speech learning. Cerebral Cortex [JCI Q1], 29(10): 4077–4089.
12. Feng, G., Ingvalson, E.M., Grieco-Calub, T.M., Roberts, M.Y., Ryan, M.E., Birmingham, P., Burrowes, D., Young, N., Wong, P.C.M. (2018). Neural preservation underlies speech improvement from auditory deprivation in young cochlear implant recipients. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America [PNAS: JCI Q1], 115(5), E1022-E1031.
13. Feng, G., Gan Z., Wang, S., Wong, P. C. M., Chandrasekaran, B. (2018). Task-general and acoustic-invariant neural representation of speech categories in the human brain. Cerebral Cortex [JCI Q1], 28(9): 3241–3254.
14. Feng, G., Chen, Q., Zhu, Z., Wang, S. (2016). Separate brain circuits support integrative and semantic priming in the human language system. Cerebral Cortex [JCI Q1], 26(7): 3169-3182.
15. Feng, G., Chen, H.-C., Zhu, Z., He, Y., Wang, S., (2015). Dynamic brain architectures in local brain activity and functional network efficiency associate with efficient reading in bilinguals. NeuroImage [JCI Q1], 119, 103-118.
16. Zhang, F., Wang, S., Yang, J., Feng, G. (2015). Atypical brain functional connectivity in autism spectrum disorders. Advances in Psychological Science, 23(7): 1196-1204.
17. Zhu, Z., Feng, G., Zhang, J.X., Li, G., Li, H., Wang, S., (2013). The role of left prefrontal cortex in sentence-level semantic integration. NeuroImage, 76(1), 325-331.
18. Zhu, Z., Fan, Y., Feng, G., Huang, R., Wang, S., (2013). Large scale brain functional networks support sentence comprehension: Evidence from both explicit and implicit language tasks. PLoS ONE,
19. Zhu, Z., Hagoort, P., Zhang, J.X., Feng, G., Chen, H.C., Bastiaansen, M., Wang, S., (2012). The anterior left inferior frontal gyrus contributes to semantic unification. NeuroImage, 60, 2230-2237.
20. Cheung, H., Chen, L., Szeto, C.-Y., Feng, G., Lu, G., Zhang, Z., Zhu, Z., Wang, S., (2012). False belief and verb non-factivity: A common neural basis? International Journal of Psychophysiology, 83, 357-364.
21. Feng, G., Zhu, Z., Duan, Y., Zhang, W. (2011). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: neural mechanisms and intervention. Journal of Psychological Science, 34(4): 931-938.
22. Zhu, Z., Wang, S., Feng, G., Liu, Y., (2011). Left inferior frontal gyrus and semantic unification in sentence comprehension. Advances in Psychological Science, 19(8), 1147-1158.
23. Zhu, Z., Wang, S., Feng, G., Li, G., (2011). The neural basis of semantic unification. Journal of Psychological Science, 19(8), 1147-1158.

* corresponding author

External Funding Awards

 Awards as PI/Co-PI

1. National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Hong Kong & Macao) (國家優秀青年科學基金項目（港澳）). Cognitive Neuroscience of Language Learning (Role: PI). RMB 2,000,000. 2024-2026.
2. General Research Fund (GRF). Neural representations underlying successful generalization in auditory category learning (Role: PI). HK$ 924,500. 2024-2025.
3. General Research Fund (GRF). Neural and cognitive fingerprints of general language learning ability. (Role: PI). HK$ 1,008,840. 2022-2024.
4. General Research Fund (GRF). Cortico-striatal systems underlying supervised speech learning. (Role: PI). HK$ 780,085. 2019-2022.
5. Collaborative Research Fund (CRF). A Predict-to-Prescribe Approach to Social Communication Treatment in Chinese Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. (Role: Co-PI). HK$ 7,974,224. 2022-2025.
6. Collaborative Research Fund (CRF). Using Advanced Neuroimaging to Predict Language and Cognitive Outcomes in Pre-Term Infants. (Role: Co-PI), HK$ 5,559,743. 2020-2023.
7. Collaborative Research Fund (CRF). Hyperscanning to Explore the Human Mind in Ensemble. (Role: Co-PI), HK$ 8,330,150. 2023-2026.

 Other External Awards

1. National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). The brain reorganization after hearing loss and rehabilitation: mechanism and prognosis. (Role: Co-I). RMB$ 590,000. 2022-2025.
2. General Research Fund (GRF), Research Grant Council of Hong Kong. Using Neuroimaging to Predict Language Outcomes in Chinese-Learning Children with Cochlear Implants (Role: Co-I). HK$ 800,020. 2020-2022.
3. Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITSP), Innovation and Technology Fund. Neural Predictors of Language Development. (Role: Co-I). HK$ 1,399,563. 2019-2020.

Patents

1. Wong, P.C.M., Feng, G., Yang, N.M. Neural Predictors of Language Skill Outcomes in Cochlear Implantation Patients. US Patent (Patent No. 11,607,309. 2023, Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office).
2. Wong, P.C.M., Novitskiy, N., Feng, G., et al. Forecasting Developmental Language and Communication Outcomes in Healthy Children (預測嬰幼兒的發育語言和交流能力的方法和工具). PRC Patent (PRC Patent No. ZL202010692253.5. 2023).

• LING4201 Neurolinguistics

• LING4202 Special Topics in Language and Mind

• LING6953 Topics in Neurolinguistics & Psycholinguistics

• LING6970 Special Topics in Linguistics: Research Design & Methods

• LING6971 Special Topics in Experimental Methods — fNIRS in Language Sciences