Qi Chen received his Ph.D. in Psychology from Ghent University, Belgium. He is currently a Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, and Dean of the School of Psychology at Shenzhen University. He serves as a Council Member of the Chinese Psychological Society (CPS), President of the Guangdong Society for Cognitive Science, Vice President of the Guangdong Psychological Association (GPA), and Deputy Chair of Mental Processes Modeling of the Chinese Psychological Society. He also serves as a committee member and council member of several other academic organizations. In addition, he is a member of the editorial boards of several domestic and international journals, including Acta Psychologica Sinica and Neuropsychologia. His research interest lies in developing computational models of human cognitive processes, with his recent work focusing primarily on the computational modeling of human cognitive flexibility and computational psychiatry. He also employs a range of experimental paradigms and techniques to validate predictions derived from computational models and investigate the underlying neural mechanisms of human cognitive processes. Over the past five years, he has served as principal investigator or participated as a researcher in multiple projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the National Social Science Fund of China. He has published a series of research articles in international journals, including Psychological Review, Cognitive Psychology, Cell Reports, PLOS Biology, and Journal of Neuroscience. His research achievements have been recognized with the First Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Philosophy and Social Sciences.
Main Research Areas:
1. Cognitive flexibility
2. Computational psychiatry
Grants:
1.Jan 2026-Dec 2029, Computational and Neural Mechanism of Adaptive Behavior in Uncertain Environments: An Information Representation and Inference Perspective, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) General Program, Principal Investigator
2.Dec 2021-Dec 2026, Neural Circuit Mechanisms of Attention—Neural Computational Model of Attention, Science and Technology Innovation 2030 – Major Project, Key Participant
3.Jan 2022-Dec 2024, Cognitive and Computational Mechanisms of Learning Processes under Uncertain Environments, Guangdong Province Natural Science Foundation (General Program), Principal Investigator
4.Jan 2021-Dec 2024, Cognitive-Neural and Computational Mechanisms of Learning in Dynamic Environments, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) General Program, Principal Investigator
5.Jan 2017-Dec 2020 Cognitive and Neural Mechanisms of Mental Numerical Representation and Processing, NSFC General Program, Principal Investigator
6.Jan 2015-Dec 2017 Development and Learning of Mathematical Abilities, Guangdong Provincial Department of Education Special Innovation Project, Principal Investigator
7.Jan 2014-Dec 2016 Mental Numerical Representation: A Computational Modeling Study, NSFC Young Scientists Fund, Principal Investigator
Publications from the Past Five Years:2026
(1) Yu Pang#, Dongsheng Zhou#, Ziwen Peng, Wanting Liu, Ruojie Huang, Carol A. Seger, and Qi Chen*. (2026). Impaired midfrontal-motor theta phase synchronization characterizes maladaptive motivational behavior in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder. PLoS Biology, 24(9), e3003979.
(2) Dandan Zhou, Boyang Zheng, Yirui Chen, Tingting Song, Qi Chen*, and Yongxin Li*. (2026). Dynamic competitive mechanism of spatial representations in implicit and explicit numerical processing: Evidence from behavior and ERPs. Biological Psychology, 109373.
(3) Wenbin Pan#, Ran Zhou#, Siying Li, Qi Chen, Junhua Dang*, and Hong Li*. (2026). From categorization to quantification: Stage-dependent neural and behavioral mechanisms of facial emotion recognition. NeuroImage, 122011.
(4) Zhengkun Long, Xiaolan Fu, Qi Chen*, Jianfeng Zhang*, and Georg Northoff*. (2026). Temporal signatures of thought—neurodynamics distinguish on-and off-task thoughts. Communications Biology, 9(1), 437.
(5) Feng Deng and Qi Chen*. (2026). A Hierarchical Computational Framework for Aberrant Social Conformity in Psychiatric Disorders. Biological Psychiatry, 99(5), 350-352.
(6) Chuanyong Xu, Ning Mei, Wenshan Dong, Rongcheng Hu, Tom Verguts, and Qi Chen*. (2026). Orthogonal representational geometry in dACC underpins human hierarchical reasoning. Cell Reports, 45(9), 117929.
(7) Chengyuan Wu, Carol A. Seger, Yixuan Ku, Canhuang Luo, Ying Zhou, Jiefeng Jiang, and Qi Chen*. (2026). Temporal dynamics of flexible cognitive control. NeuroImage, 121787.
(8) Yifei Zhang, Feng Deng, Jiajun Liao, Tom Verguts, and Qi Chen*. (2026). Medial frontal theta reduction impairs rule switching via prediction error. The Journal of Neuroscience, 46(1), e1236252025.
2025
(9) Jiali Luo and Qi Chen*. (2025). Cortical excitability and brain function in patients with insomnia: a pilot transcranial magnetic stimulation and functional near-infrared spectroscopy study. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 19, 1736601.
(10) Jiali Luo, Zefeng Tan, Pan Shang, Shuyun Huang, Yajing Liu, Yukai Wang, Haiqun Xie*, and Qi Chen*. (2025). Accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation combined with cognitive training modulates cortical plasticity and brain activation in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Experimental Gerontology, 113009.
(11) Jiali Luo, Pan Shang, Zefeng Tan, Shuyun Huang, Yajing Liu, Yukai Wang, Qi Chen*, and Haiqun Xie*. (2025). Effects of accelerated intermittent theta-burst stimulation combined with cognitive training on brain function in amnestic mild cognitive impairment patients. Neurological Sciences, 46(10), 5379-5390.
(12) Yixia Wang*, Yanxue Wang, Qi Chen, and Emmanuel Keuleers. (2025). Simplified Chinese lexicon project: A lexical decision database with 8105 characters and 4864 pseudocharacters. Behavior Research Methods, 57(7), 206.
(13) Ye Xie#, Wenjin Zou#, Yuanqi Shang, Weicong Lu, Xiaoyue Li, Qi Chen, Robin Shao, Yixuan Ku*, and Kangguang Lin*. (2025). Cognitive and neural abnormalities: working memory deficits in bipolar disorder offspring. Psychological Medicine, 55, e130.
(14) Dandan Zhou#*, Yu Zhao#, Kemeng Qu, and Qi Chen*. (2025). The role of cognitive control in the interaction of the SNARC and MARC effects. BMC Psychology, 13(1), 391.
(15) Ye Xie#, Tinghao Zhao#, Wei Zhang, Qi Chen, Anqi Qiu, Yunxia Li*, and Yixuan Ku*. (2025). Neural deterioration and compensation in visual short‐term memory among individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Alzheimer's & Dementia, e14475.
2024
(16) Chuanyong Xu#, Gangqiang Hou#, Tingxin He, Zhongqiang Ruan, Xinrong Guo, Jierong Chen, Zhen Wei, Carol A. Seger, Qi Chen*, and Ziwen Peng*. (2024). Local structural and functional MRI markers of compulsive behaviors and obsessive–compulsive disorder diagnosis within striatum-based circuits. Psychological Medicine, 54(4), 710-720.
2023
(17) Hangfeng Huo, Elise Lesage, Wenshan Dong, Tom Verguts, Carol A. Seger, Sitong Diao, Tingyong Feng*, and Qi Chen*. (2023). The neural substrates of how model-based learning affects risk taking: Functional coupling between right cerebellum and left caudate. Brain and Cognition, 172, 106088.
(18) Siying Li, Carol A. Seger, Jianfeng Zhang, Meng Liu, Wenshan Dong, Wanting Liu, and Qi Chen*. (2023). Alpha oscillations encode Bayesian belief updating underlying attentional allocation in dynamic environments. NeuroImage, 284, 120464.
(19) Zhongqiang Ruan, Carol A. Seger, Qiong Yang, Dongjae Kim, Sang Wan Lee, Qi Chen*, and Ziwen Peng*. (2023). Impairment of arbitration between model-based and model-free reinforcement learning in obsessive–compulsive disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1162800.
(20) Xueli Chen#, Ru Ma#, Wei Zhang, Ginger Qinghong Zeng, Qianying Wu, Ajiguli Yimiti, Xinzhao Xia, Jiangtian Cui, Qiongwei Liu, Xueer Meng, Junjie Bu, Qi Chen, Yu Pan, Nancy Xiaonan Yu, Shouyan Wang, Zhi-De Deng, Alexander T. Sack, Myles Mc Laughlin, and Xiaochu Zhang*. (2023). Alpha oscillatory activity is causally linked to working memory retention. PLoS Biology, 21(2), e3001999.
(21) Yimeng Pan#, Chuanyong Xu#, Tingxin He, Zhen Wei, Carol A. Seger, Qi Chen*, and Ziwen Peng*. (2023). A network perspective on cognitive function and obsessive-compulsive related symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders, 329, 428-437.
(22) Meng Liu, Wenshan Dong, Yiling Wu, Pieter Verbeke, Tom Verguts, and Qi Chen*. (2023). Modulating hierarchical learning by high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation at theta frequency. Cerebral Cortex, 33(8), 4421-4431.
(23) Xiangshu Wu#, Qiong Yang#, Chuanyong Xu, Hangfeng Huo, Carol A. Seger, Ziwen Peng*, and Qi Chen*. (2023). Connectome-based predictive modeling of compulsion in obsessive–compulsive disorder. Cerebral Cortex, 33(4), 1412-1425.
2022
(24) Jie Dong, Qingxin Yue, Aqian Li, Lala Gu, Xinqi Su, Qi Chen, and Leilei Mei*. (2022). Individuals’ preference on reading pathways influences the involvement of neural pathways in phonological learning. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1067561.
(25) Ziwen Peng#, Luning He#, Rongzhen Wen#, Tom Verguts, Carol A. Seger*, and Qi Chen*. (2022). Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by decreased Pavlovian influence on instrumental behavior. PLOS Computational Biology, 18(10), e1009945.
(26) Wenshan Dong#, Jie Luo#, Hangfeng Huo, Carol A. Seger, and Qi Chen*. (2022). Frontostriatal functional connectivity underlies the association between punishment sensitivity and procrastination. Brain Sciences, 12(9), 1163.
(27) Ziwen Peng#*, Tingxin He#, Ping Ren#, Lili Jin, Qiong Yang, Chuanyong Xu, Rongzhen Wen, Jierong Chen, Zhen Wei, Tom Verguts, and Qi Chen*. (2022). Imbalance between the caudate and putamen connectivity in obsessive–compulsive disorder. NeuroImage: Clinical, 35, 103083.
(28) Zhen Wei#, Yan Hu#, Jiayi Xiao, Ruotong Wang, Qianchu Huang, Ziwen Peng, Gangqiang Hou, and Qi Chen*. (2022). Impacts of the psychological stress response on aggression in adolescents during the COVID-19 epidemic in China. Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology, 16, 18344909221102579.
(29) Qi Chen#, Meng Liu#, Rongzhen Wen#, Chuanyong Xu, Zhen Wei, Wei Zhang, Carol A. Seger*, and Ziwen Peng*. (2022). Dysfunction of goal‐directed control in patients with depression and nonsuicidal self‐injury. Brain and Behavior, 12(6), e2607.
(30) Jiayi Xiao#, Ruotong Wang#, Yan Hu, Tingxin He, Zhongqiang Ruan, Qi Chen*, and Ziwen Peng*. (2022). Impacts of the psychological stress response on nonsuicidal self-injury behavior in students during the COVID-19 epidemic in China: the mediating role of sleep disorders. BMC Psychology, 10(1), 87.
(31) Chuanyong Xu#, Gangqiang Hou#, Tingxin He, Zhongqiang Ruan, Jierong Chen, Zhen Wei, Carol A. Seger, Qi Chen*, and Ziwen Peng*. (2022). Imbalance in functional and structural connectivity underlying goal-directed and habitual learning systems in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Cerebral Cortex, 32(17), 3690-3705.
(32) Meng Liu#, Wenshan Dong#, Shaozheng Qin, Tom Verguts, and Qi Chen*. (2022). Electrophysiological signatures of hierarchical learning. Cerebral Cortex, 32(3), 626-639.
2021
(33) Yaqi Yang#, Zhiyi Chen#, Qi Chen*, and Tingyong Feng*. (2021). Neural basis responsible for episodic future thinking effects on procrastination: The interaction between the cognitive control pathway and emotional processing pathway. Cortex, 145, 250-263.
(34) Ziwen Peng#*, Xinyi Yang#, Chuanyong Xu#, Xiangshu Wu, Qiong Yang, Zhen Wei, Zihan Zhou, Tom Verguts, and Qi Chen*. (2021). Aberrant rich club organization in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and their unaffected first-degree relatives. NeuroImage: Clinical, 32, 102808.
(35) Ziwen Peng#*, Ya Guo#, Xiangshu Wu, Qiong Yang, Zhen Wei, Carol A. Seger, and Qi Chen*. (2021). Abnormal brain functional network dynamics in obsessive–compulsive disorder patients and their unaffected first‐degree relatives. Human Brain Mapping, 42(13), 4387-4398.
(36) Dandan Zhou, Qing Cai, Jie Luo, Zizhen Yi, Yun Li, Carol A. Seger, and Qi Chen*. (2021). The neural mechanism of spatial-positional association in working memory: A fMRI study. Brain and Cognition, 152, 105756.
(37) Shunmin Zhang, Tom Verguts, Chenyan Zhang, Pan Feng, Qi Chen*, and Tingyong Feng*. (2021). Outcome value and task aversiveness impact task procrastination through separate neural pathways. Cerebral Cortex, 31(8), 3846-3855.
(38) Ziwen Peng#*, Chuanyong Xu#, Ning Ma#, Qiong Yang, Ping Ren, Rongzhen Wen, Lili Jin, Jierong Chen, Zhen Wei, Tom Verguts, and Qi Chen*. (2021). White matter alterations of the goal-directed system in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and their unaffected first-degree relatives. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, 6(10), 992-1001.
