I specialise in the study of developmental brain disorders in children, such as autism and ADHD, and am committed to exploring their pathogenesis, accurate diagnosis and effective intervention. I also have a strong interest in social brain mechanisms, studying the neural basis of human social interactions. In my research, I use machine learning methods to construct detection models for early disease prediction and classification based on multimodal data. My work spans biology, psychology and computer science and aims to contribute to the advancement of the field of childhood neurodevelopmental disorders and to bring hope to the families of affected children. I look forward to contributing to this field through my tireless efforts.
ACEDEMIC POSITIONS
Dec 2019-Shenzhen University, School of Psychology Associate Professor, PhD Supervisor
Apr 2019-Nov 2019 Assistant Professor, Kyoto University School of Medicine, Japan
Apr 2014-Mar 2019 Research Fellow, Kyoto University School of Medicine, Japan
EDUCATION
Apr 2010-Mar 2014 Ph.D., Department of Human Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan
Apr 2008-Mar 2010 Master's degree in Intelligent Systems Science, Okayama University, Japan
Apr 2004-Mar 2008 Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Kochi University, Japan
HONORS & AWARDS
2019 Outstanding Publication Award of the Japanese Psychological Association
GRANTS
2022-Mechanisms of neural loops of joint attention in children with autism spectrum disorders, Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation Top-level Project, Chair
2021~2022 Research on autism spectrum disorder based on self-association regulation of joint attention, Shenzhen Stability Support Top-level Project
2018~ 2020 Study on the neural mechanism of social cognitive substrates in autism spectrum disorder, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and Technology Youth Project, Chair
2015~ 2018 Research on social cognitive function based on joint attention, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and Technology (JSPS) Special Research Fellowship Programme for Foreigners, Chair
PUBLICATIONS
1.Zhang, S., Hu, R., & Zhao, S. (2024). Autistic traits and ARFID-associated eating behaviors in preschoolers: Mediating effects of sensory processing patterns. Appetite, 196, 107237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2024.107237
2.Luo, Q., Li, H., Lin, Y., Hu, R., Li, H., & Zhao, S. (2024). Effects of autistic traits on prosocial tendencies: The chain mediating role of fear of missing out and interpersonal security. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 112, 102328.
3.Zhang, S., Li, H., Li, H., & Zhao, S. (2023). The effect of autistic traits on prosocial behavior: The chain mediating role of received social support and perceived social support. Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 13623613231177776. Advance online publication.
4.Zhao, S., Uono, S., Hu, R. Q., Yoshimura, S., & Toichi, M. (2023). Self-referential and social saliency information influences memory following attention orienting. Frontiers in psychology, 14, 1092512.
5.Irie, K., Zhao, S., Aruga, R., Matsumoto, A., Ogawa, A., & Liang, N. (2023). Lack of action-sentence compatibility effect in non-clinical individuals with high autistic traits. Frontiers in psychology, 14, 1293405. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1293405
6.Zhang, Z., Gao, C., Zhao, S., Wu, J., Fukuyama, H., & Murai, T. (2021). Salient Properties in Bimanual Haptic Volume Perception: Influence of Object Shape, Finger Pair, and Schizotypal Personality Traits. IEEE transactions on haptics, 14(4), 816–824.
7.Zhao, S., Wang, G., Yan, T., Xiang, J., Yu, X., Li, H., & Wang, B. (2021). Sex Differences in Anatomical Rich-Club and Structural-Functional Coupling in the Human Brain Network. Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991), 31(4), 1987–1997. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhaa335
8.Irie, K., Zhao, S., Okamoto, K., & Liang, N. (2021). Examining the Effect of Adverbs and Onomatopoeia on Physical Movement. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 723602. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.723602
9.Irie, K., Matsumoto, A., Zhao, S., Kato, T., & Liang, N. (2021). Neural Basis and Motor Imagery Intervention Methodology Based on Neuroimaging Studies in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorders: A Review. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 15, 620599. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2021.620599
10.Wang, B., Wang, G., Wang, X., Cao, R., Xiang, J., Yan, T., Li, H., Yoshimura, S., Toichi, M., & Zhao, S. (2021). Rich-Club Analysis in Adults With ADHD Connectomes Reveals an Abnormal Structural Core Network. Journal of attention disorders, 25(8), 1068–1079.
11.Wang, B., Hao, Y., Zhan, Q., Zhao, S., Li, D., Imtiaz, S., Xiang, J., Wu, J., Fukuyama, H., & Yan, T. (2020). Dynamic reconfiguration of functional brain networks supporting response inhibition in a stop-signal task. Brain imaging and behavior, 14(6), 2500–2511. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-019-00203-7
12.Kasuya-Ueba, Y., Zhao, S., & Toichi, M. (2020). The Effect of Music Intervention on Attention in Children: Experimental Evidence. Frontiers in neuroscience, 14, 757. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2020.00757
13.Kawakami, S., Uono, S., Otsuka, S., Yoshimura, S., Zhao, S., & Toichi, M. (2020). Atypical Multisensory Integration and the Temporal Binding Window in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 50(11), 3944–3956. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04452-0
14.Zhao, S., Uono, S., Yoshimura, S., & Toichi, M. (2018). A functional but atypical self: Influence of self-relevant processing on the gaze cueing effect in autism spectrum disorder. Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 11(11), 1522–1531.
15.Zhao, S., Uono, S., Li, C., Yoshimura, S., & Toichi, M. (2018). The Influence of Self-Referential Processing on Attentional Orienting in Frontoparietal Networks. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 12, 199. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00199
16.Wang, B., Li, T., Zhou, M., Zhao, S., Niu, Y., Wang, X., Yan, T., Cao, R., Xiang, J., & Li, D. (2018). The Abnormality of Topological Asymmetry in Hemispheric Brain Anatomical Networks in Bipolar Disorder. Frontiers in neuroscience, 12, 618. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2018.00618
17.Kawakami, S., Uono, S., Otsuka, S., Zhao, S., & Toichi, M. (2020). Everything has Its Time: Narrow Temporal Windows are Associated with High Levels of Autistic Traits Via Weaknesses in Multisensory Integration. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 50(5), 1561–1571.
18.Zhao, S., Uono, S., Yoshimura, S., Kubota, Y., & Toichi, M. (2017). Atypical Gaze Cueing Pattern in a Complex Environment in Individuals with ASD. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 47(7), 1978–1986. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3116-2
19.Zhao, S., Li, C., Uono, S., Yoshimura, S., & Toichi, M. (2017). Human cortical activity evoked by contextual processing in attentional orienting. Scientific reports, 7(1), 2962.
20.Otsuka, S., Uono, S., Yoshimura, S., Zhao, S., & Toichi, M. (2017). Emotion Perception Mediates the Predictive Relationship Between Verbal Ability and Functional Outcome in High-Functioning Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 47(4), 1166–1182.
21.Yan, T., Zhao, S., Uono, S., Bi, X., Tian, A., Yoshimura, S., & Toichi, M. (2016). Target object moderation of attentional orienting by gazes or arrows. Attention, perception & psychophysics, 78(8), 2373–2382. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13414-016-1182-8
22.Zhao, S., Uono, S., Yoshimura, S., & Toichi, M. (2015). Self make-up: the influence of self-referential processing on attention orienting. Scientific reports, 5, 14169. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep14169
23.Zhao, S., Uono, S., Yoshimura, S., & Toichi, M. (2015). Is impaired joint attention present in non-clinical individuals with high autistic traits?. Molecular autism, 6, 67.
24.Zhao, S., Uono, S., Yoshimura, S., & Toichi, M. (2014). Attention orienting by eye gaze and arrows reveals flexibility to environmental changes. Acta psychologica, 150, 100–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2014.05.003
25.Zhao, S., Uono, S., Yoshimura, S., & Toichi, M. (2013). Can gaze-cueing be helpful for detecting sound in autism spectrum disorder? Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 7(10),1250-1256.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Lecturer in 'Cognitive Psychology' and 'Psychology' for undergraduates in the Faculty of Psychology, and 'Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology' for postgraduates.
