Zhengkun Long | Cognitive Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Zhengkun Long | Cognitive Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award 

Dr. Zhengkun Long is a cognitive neuroscientist at the School of Psychology, Shenzhen University. He earned his Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he studied the neural mechanisms of mind wandering and its effects on motor control and semantic processing. His research combines EEG and behavioral methods to explore how spontaneous thoughts influence sensory-motor functions and brain dynamics. Dr. Long is skilled in programming, EEG/fMRI data analysis, and experimental design, and has published in leading journals such as PNAS, NeuroImage, and Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience.

Dr. Zhengkun Long | Shenzhen University | China

Profile 

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57299929900

ORCID ID

🎓Education

  • Dr. Zhengkun Long earned his Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2019.09–2024.06), under the supervision of Prof. Xiaolan Fu. He completed his undergraduate studies at Wuhan University, obtaining a B.S. from the Economics and Management School (2012.09–2018.06). During his undergraduate years, he served two years (2015.09–2017.09) in an army unit of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

👨‍🏫Experience

  • Dr. Long’s research focuses on the cognitive neuroscience of mind wandering, with particular emphasis on its effects on motor control, semantic processing, and brain dynamics. Since January 2024, he has been investigating the neurodynamics of on- and off-task thoughts using EEG-based metrics such as autocorrelation window (ACW), Lempel-Ziv complexity (LZC), and power-law exponent (PLE). He is also exploring how task difficulty and attention levels influence sensory and motor phase coherence during mind wandering. His previous projects (2020–2023) examined how mind wandering impairs motor control and affects the processing of Chinese compound words, particularly considering factors like movement difficulty and word familiarity

🤝Awards and Honors

  • Dr. Long has published in high-impact journals, including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), NeuroImage, and the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. His research has been co-authored with prominent neuroscientists such as Georg Northoff and Prof. Xiaolan Fu, reflecting the significance and collaborative nature of his scientific contributions.

💡Skills and Certifications

  • Dr. Long is proficient in MATLAB, Python, and Unix for programming and experimental design. He has extensive experience in EEG data analysis, including time-frequency analysis, functional connectivity, and aperiodic signal analysis. He also has training in fMRI data analysis using FSL and is skilled in utilizing PsychoPy and Psychtoolbox for psychological experiment programming

🔬Research Focus

  • Dr. Long’s core research interests lie at the intersection of attention, mind wandering, and neural mechanisms. He aims to understand how internally directed thought processes influence external sensory and motor functions. His work combines behavioral experiments with advanced neuroimaging techniques to uncover the temporal and functional architecture of spontaneous thought and its consequences on task performance

🌎Conclusion

  • Dr. Zhengkun Long exemplifies the qualities of a Best Researcher Award recipient: intellectual curiosity, methodological excellence, and impactful scholarship. His forward-thinking research on brain dynamics and cognition makes a meaningful contribution to neuroscience and positions him as a rising leader in his field. He is highly deserving of this recognition.

📖Publications

  • How mind wandering influences motor control: The modulating role of movement difficulty
    Authors: Zhengkun Long, Qiufang Fu, Xiaolan Fu
    Journal: NeuroImage

  • Word Familiarity Modulates the Interference Effects of Mind Wandering on Semantic and Reafferent Information Processing
    Authors: Zhengkun Long, Qiufang Fu, Xiaolan Fu
    Journal: Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience

  • Unpredictable fearful stimuli disrupt timing activities: Evidence from event-related potentials
    Authors: Qian Cui, Mingtong Liu, Chang Hong Liu, Zhengkun Long, Ke Zhao, Xiaolan Fu
    Journal: Neuropsychologia

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Houze Zhu | Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Houze Zhu | Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Zhu Houze is a Lecturer at the School of Basic Medical Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. He earned his PhD in Pathophysiology from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, his master’s degree in Basic Psychology from East China Normal University, and his bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Fudan University. His research focuses on the mechanisms of neurodegeneration and memory impairment in Alzheimer’s disease, with expertise in neurophysiology, molecular biology, and cognitive neuroscience. Zhu has contributed to high-impact publications in journals such as and and has participated in several major national research projects.

Mr. Houze Zhu | Huazhong University of Science and Technology | China

Profile

🎓Education

  • Zhu Houze received his PhD in Pathophysiology from Huazhong University of Science and Technology between September 2014 and June 2017. Prior to that, he earned his master’s degree in Basic Psychology from East China Normal University from September 2011 to June 2014. He completed his undergraduate studies in Biological Sciences at Fudan University from September 2007 to June 2011.

👨‍🏫 Experience

  • Since October 2017, Zhu Houze has been serving as a Lecturer at the School of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Physiology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. He has not undertaken postdoctoral work. His recent research experience includes participation in several major projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, focusing on Alzheimer’s disease, temporal lobe epilepsy, and memory regulation mechanisms.

🤝 Awards and Achievements

  • Zhu Houze has made significant contributions to Alzheimer’s disease research, particularly in the areas of neuronal degeneration and memory impairment. His representative publications include a co-first author paper in Nature Communications on the degeneration of hippocampal cholinergic synapses and its effects on spatial memory, and contributions to high-impact studies in Journal of Neuroscience, Molecular Neurobiology, and Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. His work has helped uncover molecular pathways involved in neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.

💡Skills and Certifications

  • Zhu Houze possesses strong expertise in neurophysiology, molecular biology, behavioral neuroscience, and cognitive impairment mechanisms. His technical skills include neuronal circuit analysis, memory behavior assessments, molecular signaling pathway investigation, and experimental model development for neurological diseases.

🔬 Research Focus

  • His primary research focus lies in the mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration and memory impairment, especially in Alzheimer’s disease. He has contributed to understanding the roles of cholinergic synapse degeneration, ferroptosis, long noncoding RNAs, and astrocyte network disintegration in neurodegenerative conditions. Additionally, he is exploring the neural network structure of the “brain-gut axis” in early-stage cognitive impairment related to Alzheimer’s disease.

🌎Conclusion

  • Zhu Houze is highly suitable for the Research for Best Researcher Award. His proven ability to lead cutting-edge research, achieve meaningful scientific outcomes, and contribute significantly to the neuroscience community positions him as a strong and deserving candidate for this honor.

📖Publications

  • Amyloid-β mediates intestinal dysfunction and enteric neurons loss in Alzheimer’s disease transgenic mouse
    Authors: Guoqiang Liu, Quntao Yu, Houze Zhu, Youming Lu, Hao Li et al.
    Journal: Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences