My group investigates the cognitive and neural mechanisms of anxiety, along with various intervention measures, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. In the realm of pharmacological interventions, we primarily focus on examining the effects of intranasal oxytocin on attentional control functions in individuals with anxiety, as well as the associated brain network mechanisms. For non-pharmacological interventions, we concentrate on evaluating the effectiveness and neural mechanisms of comprehensive psychological interventions. Our ultimate goal is to develop methods to alleviate anxiety effortlessly, without the need for excessive willpower.
ACEDEMIC POSITIONS
Mar 2021-Shenzhen University, School of Psychology
Assistant Professor
EDUCATION
Sep 2015-Jun 2019 University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering
GRANTS
2023-2025 Effects of Oxytocin on Anxiety and the Underlying Brain Network Mechanisms, National Natural Science Foundation of China
2023-2025 Cognitive and Neural mechanisms of Dietary Decision-Making, Start-up funding from the Pengcheng Peacock Plan of the Shenzhen Government
2022~2024 Dynamic Process of Dietary Decision-Making and Interventions, Shenzhen Stability Support General Project
PUBLICATIONS
1.Xin, F., Zhou, X., Dong, D., Zhao, Z., Yang, X., Wang, Q., Gu, Y., Kendrick, K. M., Chen, A., Becker, B. (2020). Oxytocin Differentially Modulates Amygdala Responses during Top-Down and Bottom-Up Aversive Anticipation. Advanced Science, 7(16), 2001077. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202001077
2.Xin, F., Zhou, F., Zhou, X., Ma, X., Geng, Y., Zhao, W., Yao, S., Dong, D., Biswal, B. B., Kendrick, K. M. & Becker, B. (2021). Oxytocin Modulates the Intrinsic Dynamics Between Attention-Related Large-Scale Networks. Cerebral Cortex, 31(3), 1848-1860. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhy295
3.Xu, X.#, Xin, F.#, Liu, C., Chen, Y., Yao, S., Zhou, X., . . . Becker, B. (2022). Disorder- and cognitive demand-specific neurofunctional alterations during social emotional working memory in generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. J Affect Disord, 308, 98-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.023
4.Huang, Z., Lai, J., Xin, F.* (2024). Factors Influencing Perceptions and Reactions to Sexual Harassment among Chinese College Students. https://osf.io/preprints/osf/8v2t3
5.Xin, F., Lei, X. (2015). Competition between frontoparietal control and default networks supports social working memory and empathy. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci, 10(8), 1144-1152. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsu160
6.Xin, F., Xie, C., Wang, Lijun, & Lei, X. (2020). Large-Scale Brain Networks Interactions Support Internal and External Directed Cognition. Chinese Journal of Biomedical Engineering, 39(6), 736-746. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.0258-8021.2020.06.011
7.Dong, D., Yao, D., Wang, Y., Hong, S. J., Genon, S., Xin, F., Jung, K., He, H., Chang, X., Duan, M., Bernhardt, B. C., Mar gulies, D. S., Sepulcre, J., Eickhoff, S. B., & Luo, C. (2021). Compressed sensorimotor-to-transmodal hierarchical organization in schizophrenia. Psychol Med, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291721002129
8.Xu, X., Dai, J., Chen, Y., Liu, C., Xin, F., Zhou, X., Zhou, F., Stamatakis, E. A., Yao, S., Luo, L., Huang, Y., Wang, J., Zou, Z., Vatansever, D., Kendrick, K. M., Zhou, B. & Becker, B. (2021). Intrinsic connectivity of the prefrontal cortex and striato-limbic system respectively differentiate major depressive from generalized anxiety disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology, 46(4), 791-798. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-020-00868-5
9.Li, J., Yang, X., Zhou, F., Liu, C., Wei, Z., Xin, F., Daumann, B., Daumann, J., Kendrick, K.M., Becker, B. (2020). Modafinil enhances cognitive, but not emotional conflict processing via enhanced inferior frontal gyrus activation and its communication with the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. Neuropsychopharmacology, 45(6), 1026-1033. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-020-0625-z
10.Xu, X., Dai, J., Liu, C., Chen, Y., Xin, F., Zhou, F., Zhou, X., Huang, Y., Wang, J., Zou, Z., Li, J., Ebstein, R. P., Kendrick, K. M., Zhou, B, Becker, B. (2020). Common and Disorder-Specific Neurofunctional Markers of Dysregulated Empathic Reactivity in Major Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Psychotherapy and psychosomatics, 89(2), 114-116. https://doi.org/10.1159/000504180
11.Han, S., Becker, B., Duan, X., Cui, Q., Xin, F., Zong, X., Hu, M., Yang, M., Li, R., Yu, Y., Liao, W., Chen, X., Chen, H. (2020). Distinct striatum pathways connected to salience network predict symptoms improvement and resilient functioning in schizophrenia following risperidone monotherapy. Schizophr Res, 215, 89-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2019.11.017
12.Zhou, F., Geng, Y., Xin, F., Li, J., Feng, P., Liu, C., Zhao, W., Feng, T., Guastella, A. J., Ebstein, R. P., Kendrick, K. M., Becker, B. (2019). Human extinction learning is accelerated by an angiotensin antagonist via ventromedial prefrontal cortex and its connections with basolateral amygdala. Biological Psychiatry, 86(12), 910-920. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.07.007
13.Zhou, X., Zimmermann, K., Xin, F., Zhao, W., Derckx, R. T., Sassmannshausen, A., Scheele, D., Hurlemann, R., Weber, B., Kendrick, K. M., Becker, B. (2019). Cue reactivity in the ventral striatum characterizes heavy cannabis use, whereas reactivity in the dorsal striatum mediates dependent use. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, 4(8), 751-762. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsc.2019.04.006
14.Dong, D., Duan, M., Wang, Y., Zhang, X., Jia, X., Li, Y., Xin, F., Yao, D. & Luo, C. (2019). Reconfiguration of Dynamic Functional Connectivity in Sensory and Perceptual System in Schizophrenia. Cerebral Cortex, 29(8), 3577-3589. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhy232
15.Zhou, F., Zimmermann, K., Xin, F., Scheele, D., Dau, W., Banger, M., Weber, B., Hurlemann, R., Kendrick, K. M., & Becker, B. (2018). Shifted balance of dorsal versus ventral striatal communication with frontal reward and regulatory regions in cannabis-dependent males. Hum Brain Mapp, 39(12), 5062-5073. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.24345
16.Zhao, W., Ma, X., Le, J., Ling, A., Xin, F., Kou, J., Zhang, Y., Luo, R., Becker, B., Kendrick, K. M. (2018). Oxytocin biases men to be more or less tolerant of others' dislike dependent upon their relationship status. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 88, 167-172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.12.010
17.Yang, X., Liu, X., Zeng, Y., Wu, R., Zhao, W., Xin, F., . . . Becker, B. (2021). Secondary rewards acquire enhanced incentive motivation via increasing anticipatory activity of the lateral orbitofrontal cortex. Brain Structure and Function, 226(7), 2339-2355. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-021-02333-5
18.Yang, T., Xin, F., & Lei, X. (2015). Gender Differences in the Human Brain Structure and Function: Evidence from Neuroimaging Studies. Advances in Psychological Science, 23(4), 571-581. https://doi.org/10.3724/sp.j.1042.2015.00571
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Lecturer in 'MATLAB Programming for Psychology', 'Experimental Psychology' and 'Python Programming' for undergraduates, and ' MATLAB Programming ' for postgraduates.
