Xinmei Deng, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Master's Supervisor, who specializes in instructing undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including Social Psychology and Developmental Psychology. Dr. Deng's research interests are primarily focused in four key areas: Firstly, she explores the developmental and neural mechanisms underlying adolescent emotional regulation using longitudinal studies, experience sampling methods, and electroencephalography (EEG) technology. Her work in this area examines developmental variations in emotional regulation outcomes, emotional health, and emotional cognition across different stages of life, along with the corresponding neural mechanisms. Secondly, she employs neuroscientific techniques to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions in children and adolescent populations. This research aims to understand how mindfulness practices can impact cognitive, emotional, and neural processes in these age groups. Thirdly, Dr. Deng employs hyperscanning approach based on EEG techniques to explore interpersonal interactions among children and adolescents. This work focuses on analyzing neural synchrony and connectivity during social interactions, providing insights into the neural underpinnings of social behavior in developing individuals. Lastly, she utilizes Implicit Association Tests (IAT), priming paradigms, and EEG technology to investigate cross-cultural differences in emotional attitudes, regulation strategies, and cognitive processes through comparative studies across diverse cultural contexts.
ACEDEMIC POSITIONS
Dec 2019-Associate Professor, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University
Sep 2014-Dem 2019 Assistant Professor, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University
EDUCATION
2010- 2014 Ph.D., School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University
Aug 2011-Aug 2012 Visiting Predoctoral Fellow, Graduate School of Education, Harvard University
2010Master, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University
2007Bachelor, Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-Sen University
GRANTS
2024-Dynamic Monitoring and Precise Alleviation of Adolescent with Social Disorders Based on Artificial Intelligence (2024-2026, National Social Science Fund for Young Scholars, Principal Investigator)
2023-Integration of Artificial Intelligence Teaching and Traditional Teaching in the Context of Educational Digital Transformation: A Study on Student Learning Psychology and Teaching Effectiveness (2023-2025, Guangdong Provincial Education Science Planning Project (Higher Education Special Project), Principal Investigator)
2024-Mindfulness-based Collaborative Intervention for Adolescents with Social Disorders: A Study Based on Cognitive Neuroscience and Educational Practice (2024-2025, Shenzhen Municipal Stability Support Project Class B, Principal Investigator)
2018~ 2020Cross-cultural Differences in Positive Emotion Processing and Their Neural Mechanisms (2018-2020, National Natural Science Fund for Young Scholars, Principal Investigator)
2016~ 2019Research on Cultural Integration and Psychological Adaptation of Ethnic Minority Students (2016-2019, Ministry of Education Humanities and Social Science Research Project for Young Scholars, Principal Investigator)
2017~ 2019Research on the Current Status of Mental Health and Educational Practice of Xinjiang College Students in Guangdong Universities (2017-2019, Major Scientific Research Project of Guangdong Provincial Department of Education, Principal Investigator)
2017~ 2019The Regulation of Positive Emotion Processing by Culture and Its Neural Mechanisms: A Study from the Perspective of Cultural Neuroscience (2017-2019, Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation Doctoral Start-up Project, Principal Investigator)
2021~ 2022The Impact of Mindfulness Training on Adolescent Emotional Health—A Study Combining Cognitive Neuroscience and Educational Practice (2021-2022, Shenzhen Municipal Education Science Planning Project, Principal Investigator)
2023-Guangdong Provincial Education Science Planning Project (Higher Education Special Project): Integration of Artificial Intelligence Teaching and Traditional Teaching in the Context of Educational Digital Transformation: A Study on Student Learning Psychology and Teaching Effectiveness, 2023GXJK454, 2023-2025 (Principal Investigator)
PUBLICATIONS
Books
Deng, X. *, & You, Y. (2018). How Children Learn. Beijing Normal University Press.
JOURNAL PAPERS
(# Co-First Author, * Corresponding Author)
Deng, X. *, Chen, X., & Wang, J. (2024, Online Publication). The Paradox of Social Avoidance and the Yearning for Understanding: Elevated Interbrain Synchrony Among Socially Avoidant Individuals during Expression of Negative Emotions. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology.
Deng, X. et al. * (2024, Online Publication). A friend in need is a friend indeed: Acute tandem rope skipping enhances inter-brain synchrony of socially avoidant individuals. Brain and Cognition.
Chen, Y. & Deng, X. * (2024, Online Publication). How Socially Avoidant Emerging Adults Process Social Feedback during Human-to-Human Interaction after Social Rejection: An Event-Related Potential Study. Behavioral Sciences, 14, 457.
Zhao, Y., Zeng, H., & Deng, X. * (2024, Online Publication). Chinese high school students' career development: Associations with academic self-efficacy and motivation. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 91,101629.
Deng, X., Lin, M., & Li, X. (2023, Online Publication). Mindfulness Meditation Enhances Interbrain Synchrony of Adolescents When Experiencing Different Emotions Simultaneously. Cerebral Cortex.
Deng, X., Chen, K., Chen, X., Zhang, L., Lin, M., Li, X., & Gao, Q. (2023). Parental involvement affects parent-adolescents brain-to-brain synchrony when experiencing different emotions together: an EEG-based hyperscanning study. Behavioural Brain Research. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114734
Yang, M., Li, X., Sang, B. & Deng, X. * (2023, Online Publication). Age differences in interbrain synchronization during peer cooperation: an EEG hyperscanning study. Cerebral Cortex.
Deng, X. *, Yang, M., Chen, X., & Zhan, Y. (2023, Online Publication). The role of mindfulness on theta inter-brain synchrony during cooperation feedback processing: An EEG-based hyperscanning study. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology.
Fan, J., Li, W., Lin, M., Li, X., & Deng, X. *. (2023). Effects of mindfulness and fatigue on emotional processing: An event-related potentials study. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 17, 1175067. Deng, X., Zhang, S., Chen, X., Coplan, R. J., Xiao, B., & Ding, X. (2023, Online Publication). Links between social avoidance and frontal alpha asymmetry during processing emotional facial stimuli: An exploratory study. Biological Psychology.
Deng, X. *, Chen, X., Zhang, L., Gao, Q., Li, X., & An, S. (2022, Online Publication). Adolescent social anxiety undermines adolescent- parent interbrain synchrony during emotional processing: A hyperscanning study. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2022.100329
Deng, X. *, Lin, M., Zhang, L., Li, X., & Gao, Q. (2022). Relations between family cohesion and adolescent-parent’s neural synchrony in response to emotional stimulations. Behavioral and Brain Functions, 18, 11.
Chen, X., & Deng, X. * (2022). Differences in Emotional Conflict Processing between High and Low Mindfulness Adolescents: An ERP Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19, 2891.
Deng, X.*, Liang, M., & Zeng, H. (2022). Relations between Different Career-development Profiles, Academic Self-efficacy and Academic Motivation in Adolescents. Educational Psychology, 42(2), 259-274.
Deng, X.*, An, S., & You, Y. (2021, Online Publication). Cross-cultural Differences in the Processing of Positive Emotions in Social Contexts: An ERP Study. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02604-8
Deng, X.*, An, S., & You, Y. (2021, Online Publication). Neural Underpinnings of the Role of Dialecticism in Processing of Positive Emotions. Culture and Brain. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40167-021-00104-x
Yang, M., Deng, X., * & An, S. (2021). The Relationship between Habitual Use and Real-time Emotion Regulation Strategies in Adolescents: Evidence from Frontal EEG Asymmetry. Neuropsychologia, 162, 108056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.108056
Yang, M., Deng, X., * & An, S. (2021). The Immediate and Lasting Effect of Emotion Regulation in Adolescents: An ERP Studies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 10242. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910242 Deng, X., Gao. Q.*, Hu, L., Zhang, L., Li, Z., & Bu., X. (2021). Differences in Reward Sensitivity between High and Low Problematic Smartphone Use Adolescents: An ERP Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 9603. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189603 Deng, X., * Yang, M., & An, S. (2021). Differences in frontal EEG asymmetry during emotion regulation between high and low mindfulness adolescents. Biological Psychology, 158, 107990. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2020.107990 Deng, X., Gao. Q.*, Zhang, L., & Li, Z. (2020). Neural Underpinnings of the Role of Trait Mindfulness in Emotion Regulation in Adolescents. Mindfulness, 11, 1120-1130. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01276-7 Ding, X., Fu, R., Ooi, L. L. *, Coplan, R. J., Zheng, Q., & Deng, X*. (2020). Relations between different components of rejection sensitivity and adjustment in Chinese children. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 67, 101119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2020.101119 Deng, X. *, & Zhang, L. (2020). Neural Underpinnings of the Relationship between Sensation Seeking and Emotion Regulation in Adolescents. International Journal of Psychology, 55(5), 851-860. https://doi.org/ 10.1002/ijop.12649 Deng, X. *, You. Y., & Sai, L. (2019). Subcultural Differences in Processing Social and Non-social Positive Emotions between Han and Uygur Chinese: An ERP Study. Frontiers in Psychology, 10:2041. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02041 Deng, X., Zhang, J. *, Hu, L., & Zeng, H. (2019). Neurophysiological Evidence of the Transient Effects of Mindfulness Induction on Emotional Processing in Children: An ERP Study. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 143, 36-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2019.06.014 Deng, X. *, An, S., & Cheng, C. (2019). Cultural differences in the implicit and explicit attitudes toward emotion regulation. Personality and Individual Difference, 149, 220-222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.05.057
Deng, X., Sang, B. *, Ku, Y. *, & Sai, L. (2019). Age-Related Differences in the Late Positive Potential during Emotion Regulation between Adolescents and Adults. Scientific Reports, 9, 5738. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-42139-4
Deng, X. M. *, & Ding, X. (2019). Contra-Hedonic Attitudes toward Pleasant Emotions in China: Links to Cultural Values, Emotion Expression, and Depression. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 38(2), 140-159. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2019.38.2.140
Deng, X. *, Cheng, C., Chow, H. M., & Ding, X. (2019). Prefer Feeling Bad? Subcultural Differences in Emotional Preferences between Han Chinese and Mongolian Chinese. International Journal of Psychology, 54, 333-341. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12481
Zhang, J., Deng, X. *, Huang, L., Zeng, H., Wang, L., & Wen, P. (2019). Profile of Trait Mindfulness and Its Association with Emotion Regulation for Early Adolescents. Personality and Individual Difference, 147, 12-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.04.008
Sang, B., Pan, T. T., Deng, X. *, & Zhao, X. (2018). Be Cool with Academic Stress: The Association Between Emotional States and Regulatory Strategies among Chinese Adolescents. Educational Psychology, 38 (1), 38-53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01443410.2017.1309008
Deng, X., Sang, B. * & Chen, X. (2017). Implicit Beliefs about Emotion Regulation and Their Relations with Emotional Experiences among Chinese Adolescents. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 41 (2), 220-227. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025415612229
Deng, X.*, Ding, X., Cheng, C. & Chou, H. M. (2016). Feeling Happy and Sad at the Same Time? Subcultural Differences in Experiencing Mixed Emotions between Han Chinese and Mongolian Chinese. Frontiers in Psychology, 7:1692. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01692
Sang, B. *, Deng, X. #, & Luan, Z. (2014). Which Emotional Regulatory Strategy Makes Chinese Adolescents Happier? A Longitudinal Study in China. International Journal of Psychology, 49, 513-518. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12067
Deng, X. #, Sang, B. #,* & Luan, Z. (2013). The Up- and Down-Regulation of Daily Emotion: An Experience Sampling Study of Adolescents' Regulatory Tendency and Effectiveness. Psychological Reports, 113(2), 552-565. https://doi.org/10.2466/09.10.PR0.113x22z4
CONFERENCE PAPERS
International Conferences
Deng,X., Chen, X., Lin, M., & Zhan, Y. Differences in the Gamma Interbrain Synchrony Between High and Low Social Anxiety Adolescent-Parent Dyads During Emotional Processing. Paper presented at the 20th World Congress of Psychophysiology. Virtual Meeting, Chengdu, China, September 6-11, 2021.
Deng,X. & Yang, M. Differences in the Frontal EEG Asymmetry during Emotion Regulation Between High and Low Mindful Adolescents. Paper presented at the SRCD (Society for Research in Child Development) 2021 Biennial Meeting, Virtual Meeting, USA 7-9, April 2021.
Deng, X., An, S., Cheng, C., & You, Y. Cross-cultural emotion regulation in a social context. Meeting canceled due to COVID-19 outbreak. Talk was to be given at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science. Chicago, IL, USA. May, 2020.
Deng, X. Subcultural Differences in the Neurophysiological Correlations of Processing Socially and Non-socially Pleasant Stimuli in China. Paper presented at the 25th Biennial Meeting of the ISSBD (The International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development), Gold Coast, Australia. 15-19, July 2018.
Deng, X. Neurophysiological Correlations of Processing Socially and Non-socially Pleasant Stimuli between Children and Adults. Paper presented at the ISSBD (The International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development) Regional Workshop 2018, Milan, Italy. 5-7 February 2018.
Deng, X. Happiness as Personal or Social? Chinese Children’s Model of Happiness. Paper presented at the 18th European Conference on Developmental Psychology, Utrecht, the Netherlands. 29 August–1 September 2017.
Deng, X. Electrocortical Reactivity to Self- and Social-oriented Pleasant Stimuli in Children and Adults. Paper presented at the 18th European Conference on Developmental Psychology, Utrecht, the Netherlands. 29 August–1 September 2017.
Deng, X. Why Expressing Emotions Associated With Poorer Psychological Well-being in China? The Moderating Effect of Contra-Hedonic Beliefs of Happiness and Their Relations with Culture Values. Paper presented at the Asian Mental Health Conference, Hong Kong, China. December 2- 3, 2016.
Deng, X., & Cheng, C. Age-Related Differences in the Modulations of Late Positive Potential during Emotion Regulation between Adolescents and Adults. Paper presented at the 24nd ISSBD, Vilnius, Lithuania. July 10-14, 2016.
Deng, X., & Cheng, C. Age-related Differences in the Positivity Effect in Chinese Youth. Paper presented at the 24nd ISSBD, Vilnius, Lithuania. July 10-14, 2016.
Deng, X., & Sang, B. Emotional Reactivity and Emotion Regulation of Basic and Social Emotional Stimuli: A Sub-Cultural Comparison between Han and Ethnic Minority Adolescents in China. Paper presented at the 23nd ISSBD, Shanghai, China. July 8-12, 2014.
Deng, X., Sang, B. & Luan, Z. The Up- and Down-Regulation of Daily Emotion: An Experience Sampling Study of Adolescents' Regulatory Tendency and Effects. Paper presented at the 8th International Conference for Chinese Psychologists, Beijing, China. August 26-28, 2013.
Deng, X., Luan, Z., & Sang, B. The Role of Emotion Experiences, Emotional Ability, and Emotion Regulation Attitude: A Longitudinal Study about Emotion Regulation. Paper presented at the 22nd ISSBD (The International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development), Edmonton, Canada. July 8-12, 2012.
Deng, X., & Lin, J. Regulating Anger and Sadness: Exploring the Way to Promote Interpersonal Relationship and Reduce Loneliness. Paper presented at the World Congress 2009 of the World Federation for Mental Health, Athens, Greece. September 2-6, 2009.
Deng, X. Development of Meta-Emotion and Emotion Regulation: Exploring the relations of interrelationship. Paper presented at the Regional Conference of ISSBD, Nanjing, China. June 12-14, 2009.
Deng, X., & Lin, J. The relationship between coping and mental health regarding supervisor and staff. Paper presented at the World Congress 2007 of the World Federation for Mental Health, Hong Kong, China. August 19-23, 2007.
Domestic Conferences
Deng, X. (2016). Why Expressing Emotions Associated With Poorer Psychological Well-being in China? The Moderating Effect of Contra-Hedonic Beliefs of Happiness and Their Relations with Culture Values. Paper presented at the 19th National Academic Congress of Psychology, Xi’an, China. October 14- 16, 2016.
Deng, X., & Sang, B. (2013). Age-Related Differences of Emotion Regulation Effects Towards Various Emotional Stimuli. Paper presented at the 16th National Academic Congress of Psychology, Shanghai, China. November 1- 3, 2013.
Deng, X., & Sang, B. (2012). The Development of Adolescents’ Emotional Perception and Emotion Regulation. Paper presented at the 15th National Academic Congress of Psychology, Shanghai, China. November 30- December 2, 2012.
Deng, X., & Sang, B. (2010). The Up- and Down-Regulation of Daily Emotion--- Emotional Intelligence, Feeling of Loneliness, and Interpersonal Relationship in Chinese Adolescents. Paper presented at the 13th National Academic Congress of Psychology, Shanghai, China. November 20-21, 2010.
