Chuansheng Chen

YNIMG Journal 2025 Journal Article

Functional divisions of the left anterior and posterior temporoparietal junction for phonological and semantic processing in Chinese character reading

• Aqian Li
• Chuansheng Chen
• Yuan Feng
• Rui Hu
• Xiaoxue Feng
• Jingyu Yang
• Xingying Lin
• Leilei Mei

Previous studies have shown that the left temporoparietal junction (TPJ) plays a critical role in word reading. Nevertheless, there is still controversy surrounding the phonological and semantic functions of the left TPJ. The parietal unified connectivity-biased computation (PUCC) model posits that the function of the left TPJ depends on both the neurocomputation of this local area and its long-range connectivity. To clarify the specific roles of different TPJ subregions in phonological and semantic processing of Chinese characters, the present study used connectivity-based clustering to identify seven subdivisions within the left TPJ, and conducted comprehensive analyses including functional and structural connectivity, univariate and multivariate analyses (i.e., representational similarity analysis, RSA) on multimodal imaging data (task-state fMRI, resting-state fMRI, and diffusion-weighted imaging [DWI]). Functional and structural connectivity analyses revealed that the left anterior TPJ had stronger connections with the phonological network, while the left posterior TPJ had stronger connections with the semantic network. RSA revealed that the left anterior and posterior TPJ represented phonological and semantic information of Chinese characters, respectively. More importantly, the phonological and semantic representations of the left TPJ were respectively correlated with its functional connectivity to the phonological and semantic networks. Altogether, our results provide a more elaborate perspective on the functional dissociation of the left anterior and posterior TPJ in phonological and semantic processing of Chinese characters, and support the PUCC model.

YNIMG Journal 2024 Journal Article

Processing demands modulate the activities and functional connectivity patterns of the posterior (VWFA-1) and anterior (VWFA-2) VWFA

• Aqian Li
• Chuansheng Chen
• Xiaoyan Wu
• Yuan Feng
• Jingyu Yang
• Xiaoxue Feng
• Rui Hu
• Leilei Mei

Previous studies have shown that the visual word form area (VWFA) has structural and intrinsic functional connectivity with both language and attention networks. Nevertheless, it is still unclear how the functional connectivity pattern of the VWFA is regulated by processing demands induced by experimental tasks, and whether processing demands differentially regulate the posterior (VWFA-1) and anterior (VWFA-2) subregions of the VWFA. To address these questions, the present study adopted two tasks varying in processing demands (i.e., verbal and non-verbal tasks), and used generalized psychophysiological interaction (gPPI) and dynamic causal modeling (DCM) analyses to explore the task-dependent functional connectivity patterns of the two subregions of the VWFA. Activation analysis revealed that the VWFA-2 showed higher activation for the verbal task than the non-verbal task, while there were no activation differences in the VWFA-1 after controlling for the stimulus driven effects. Functional and effective connectivity analyses revealed that, for both VWFA-1 and VWFA-2, the verbal task enhanced connections from VWFAs to the ventral language regions (e.g., the left orbital frontal cortex), while the non-verbal task enhanced connections from VWFAs to the dorsal visuospatial regions (e.g., the left intraparietal sulcus). Results of the present study indicate that processing demands induced by tasks modulate both the local activity and functional connectivity patterns of the VWFA, providing new insights for understanding its domain-general function.

YNIMG Journal 2022 Journal Article

Dynamic changes in neural representations underlie the repetition effect on false memory

• Xuhao Shao
• Chuansheng Chen
• Elizabeth F. Loftus
• Gui Xue
• Bi Zhu

Restudying word lists (e.g., dream, awake, and bed) strengthens true memory of the studied words and reduces false memory for unstudied but semantically related lures (e.g., sleep). Yet, the neural mechanisms involved in this repetition effect on false memory remain unclear. Possible mechanisms involve item-specific and semantic neural representations at encoding, and the memory strength between encoding and retrieval. This study first replicated the behavioral results (Exp. 1) and then investigated various neural mechanisms by using slow event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and representational similarity analysis (Exp. 2). Behavioral results confirmed that restudy improved true memory and reduced false memory. The fMRI results showed that restudy induced item-specific neural representations at encoding in the left occipital pole, but reduced neural overlap between semantic representations at encoding in the left temporal pole. Individual differences in these two encoding neural mechanisms were correlated with the behavioral measure of false memory, with greater restudy-induced representational changes at encoding (item-specific neural representations and reduced neural overlap between semantic representations) being associated with lower false memory. Moreover, restudy enhanced the memory strength between encoding and retrieval in the visuoparietal cortex but reduced it in the frontal cortex. These findings suggest that dynamic changes in neural representations underlie the repetition effect on false memory, supporting a dual-coding neural framework.

YNICL Journal 2022 Journal Article

Reduced sensitivity to delayed time and delayed reward of the post-operative insular glioma patients in delay discounting

• Wenjin Fu
• Zhenxing Huang
• Jun Li
• Qi Dong
• Yang Li
• Gen Li
• Yaokai Xu
• Bowen Xue

Previous studies have shown that the insula is closely related to addiction, and the structure's role in delay discounting can be measured by a specific task, but the specific role of the insula has been less studied. In this study, we first conducted a lesion study in which we recruited healthy controls (n = 30) and patients with unilateral insula injury (n = 16) to complete a behavioral delay discounting task. Then we conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, and a separate group healthy volunteers (n = 51) completed a delay discounting task during the fMRI scan. The lesion study showed a significant difference between the two groups in the delay discounting task, which revealed that insula injury was associated with impaired decision making. The fMRI study revealed choice-sensitive insula activation that was modulated by delayed time and delayed reward, indicating an important role of the insula in delay discounting. Overall, our results provide evidence for a role of the insular lobe in delay discounting and suggests that this structure may be considered an important factor in the future treatment and diagnosis of addiction disorders.

YNICL Journal 2020 Journal Article

Effect of ZNF804A gene polymorphism (rs1344706) on the plasticity of the functional coupling between the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the contralateral hippocampal formation

• Wan Zhao
• Xiongying Chen
• Qiumei Zhang
• Boqi Du
• Xiaoxiang Deng
• Feng Ji
• Yu-Tao Xiang
• Chuanyue Wang

ZNF804A has now been recognized as a schizophrenia risk gene by multiple genome-wide association studies with its intronic polymorphism rs1344706 being reported as the first genome-wide significant risk variant for schizophrenia. Although the functional impact of this gene is still unknown, rs1344706's contribution to the functional coupling between the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the contralateral hippocampal formation (HF) has been reported by several studies. The current study tested whether the right DLPFC-left HF functional coupling showed plasticity during cognitive training (Study I) and whether rs1344706 affected the plasticity (Study II). In Study I, we conducted a randomized controlled trial with 30 subjects receiving 20 sessions of adaptive training on a memory span task (the training group) and 30 subjects practicing on a non-adaptive easy version of the same memory span task for 20 sessions (the control group). All subjects were scanned using fMRI before and after the training. Analyses of resting-state and task-state fMRI data consistently showed that the adaptive memory span training significantly strengthened the right DLPFC-left HF functional coupling. In Study II, we conducted a genetic association study with 101 subjects (combining the data from the training group in Study I with those from an additional subsequent sample of 71 subjects who received the same training and fMRI scans). Results showed that rs1344706 was significantly associated with training-induced changes in functional coupling. Subjects carrying the non-risk allele (C) of rs1344706 showed greater training-induced plasticity than the risk allele (A) homozygotes. These findings expanded our current understanding of the functional impact of the schizophrenia risk variant of ZNF804A gene and suggested that the ZNF804A gene could be used as a prospective target for future antipsychotic drugs and clinical research.

YNIMG Journal 2020 Journal Article

Individual-specific and shared representations during episodic memory encoding and retrieval

• Xiaoqian Xiao
• Yu Zhou
• Jing Liu
• Zhifang Ye
• Li Yao
• Jiacai Zhang
• Chuansheng Chen
• Gui Xue

Although human memories seem unique to each individual, they are shared to a great extent across individuals. Previous studies have examined, separately, subject-specific and cross-subject shared representations during memory encoding and retrieval, but how shared memories are formed from individually encoded representations is not clearly understood. Using a unique fMRI design involving memory encoding and retrieval, and representational similarity analysis to link representations from different individuals, brain regions, and processing stages, the current study revealed that distributed brain regions showed both subject-specific and shared neural representations during both memory encoding and retrieval. Furthermore, different brain regions showed stage-specific representational strength, with the visual cortex showing greater unique and shared representations during encoding, whereas the left angular gyrus showing greater unique and shared representations during retrieval. The neural representations during encoding were transformed during retrieval, as shown by smaller cross-subject encoding-retrieval similarity (ERS) than cross-subject similarity either during encoding or during retrieval. This cross-subject and cross-stage similarity was found both within and across regions, with strong pattern similarity between the encoded representation in VVC and the retrieved representation in the angular gyrus. Simulation analysis further suggested that these patterns could be achieved by incorporating stage-specific representational strength, and cross-region reinstatement from encoding to retrieval, but not by a common transformation from encoding to retrieval across subjects. Together, our results shed light on how memory representations are encoded and transformed to maintain individual characteristics and at the same time to create shared representations to facilitate interpersonal communication.

YNIMG Journal 2019 Journal Article

The regional homogeneity patterns of the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex predict individual differences in decision impulsivity

• Chenyu Lv
• Qiang Wang
• Chuansheng Chen
• Jiang Qiu
• Gui Xue
• Qinghua He

Intertemporal choice refers to the process of making decisions by weighing short- and long-term benefits and costs. On average people prefer immediate rewards over delayed rewards with larger amounts, which is a form of decision impulsivity. Based on previous research showing the importance of the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) in decision impulsivity, the present study examined whether regional homogeneity (ReHo) patterns in DMPFC were associated with individual differences in intertemporal choices. Two cohorts of college students (N = 239 and N = 227, respectively) were recruited and resting-state data were collected. Results from both univariate and multivariate pattern analyses of the two cohorts consistently showed that ReHo patterns in the DMPFC were associated with the delay discounting rate (i. e. , log k). These results further support the important role of DMPFC in intertemporal choice and have potential practical implications for decision making in our daily life and at the level of national policies as well as for the treatment of clinical populations with decision impulsivity (e. g. , gamblers, individuals with substance use disorders).

YNICL Journal 2018 Journal Article

Effect of rs1344706 in the ZNF804A gene on the brain network

• Xiongying Chen
• Zhifang Zhang
• Qiumei Zhang
• Wan Zhao
• Jinguo Zhai
• Min Chen
• Boqi Du
• Xiaoxiang Deng

ZNF804A rs1344706 (A/C) was the first SNP that reached genome-wide significance for schizophrenia. Recent studies have linked rs1344706 to functional connectivity among specific brain regions. However, no study thus far has examined the role of this SNP in the entire functional connectome. In this study, we used degree centrality to test the role of rs1344706 in the whole-brain voxel-wise functional connectome during the resting state. 52 schizophrenia patients and 128 healthy controls were included in the final analysis. In our whole-brain analysis, we found a significant interaction effect of genotype×diagnosis at the precuneus (PCU) (cluster size=52 voxels, peak voxel MNI coordinates: x=9, y=−69, z=63, F =32. 57, FWE corrected P <0. 001). When we subdivided the degree centrality network according to anatomical distance, the whole-brain analysis also found a significant interaction effect of genotype×diagnosis at the PCU with the same peak in the short-range degree centrality network (cluster size=72 voxels, F =37. 29, FWE corrected P <0. 001). No significant result was found in the long-range degree centrality network. Our results elucidated the contribution of rs1344706 to functional connectivity within the brain network, and may have important implications for our understanding of this risk gene's role in functional dysconnectivity in schizophrenia.

YNICL Journal 2018 Journal Article

Polymorphism in schizophrenia risk gene MIR137 is associated with the posterior cingulate Cortex's activation and functional and structural connectivity in healthy controls

• Zhifang Zhang
• Tongjun Yan
• Yanyan Wang
• Qiumei Zhang
• Wan Zhao
• Xiongying Chen
• Jinguo Zhai
• Min Chen

MIR137 gene has been repeatedly reported as a schizophrenia risk gene in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). A polymorphism (rs1625579) at the MIR137 gene has been associated with both neural activation and behavioral performance during a working memory task. This study examined MIR137's associations with task-related (N-back working memory) fMRI, resting state fMRI, and diffusion tensor images (DTI) data in 177 healthy adults. We found less deactivation of the PCC in risk allele homozygotes (TT) as compared to the GT heterozygotes (cluster size = 630 voxels, cluster level P FWE < 0. 001) during the N-back task, which replicated previous findings. Using the identified cluster within the PCC as the seed, we further found decreased functional connectivity between the PCC and the anterior cingulate cortex and its adjacent medial prefrontal cortex (ACC/MPFC) in risk allele homozygotes during both resting state (cluster size = 427 voxels, cluster level P FWE = 0. 001) and the N-back task (cluster size = 73 voxels, cluster level P FWE = 0. 05). Finally, an analysis of our DTI data showed decreased white matter integrity of the posterior cingulum in risk allele homozygotes (cluster size = 214 voxels, cluster level P FWE = 0. 03). Taken together, rs1625579 seems to play an important role in both functional and structural connectivity between the PCC and the ACC/MPFC, which may serve as the brain mechanisms for the link between rs1625579 and schizophrenia.

YNIMG Journal 2018 Journal Article

The semantic system is involved in mathematical problem solving

• Xinlin Zhou
• Mengyi Li
• Leinian Li
• Yiyun Zhang
• Jiaxin Cui
• Jie Liu
• Chuansheng Chen

Numerous studies have shown that the brain regions around bilateral intraparietal cortex are critical for number processing and arithmetical computation. However, the neural circuits for more advanced mathematics such as mathematical problem solving (with little routine arithmetical computation) remain unclear. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), this study (N = 24 undergraduate students) compared neural bases of mathematical problem solving (i. e. , number series completion, mathematical word problem solving, and geometric problem solving) and arithmetical computation. Direct subject- and item-wise comparisons revealed that mathematical problem solving typically had greater activation than arithmetical computation in all 7 regions of the semantic system (which was based on a meta-analysis of 120 functional neuroimaging studies on semantic processing). Arithmetical computation typically had greater activation in the supplementary motor area and left precentral gyrus. The results suggest that the semantic system in the brain supports mathematical problem solving.

YNIMG Journal 2017 Journal Article

Corrigendum to “Long-term experience with Chinese language shapes the fusiform asymmetry of English reading” [NeuroImage 110 (2015) 3–10]

• Leilei Mei
• Gui Xue
• Zhong-Lin Lu
• Chuansheng Chen
• Miao Wei
• Qinghua He
• Qi Dong

YNIMG Journal 2017 Journal Article

Corrigendum to “Native language experience shapes neural basis of addressed and assembled phonologies” [Neuroimage 114 (2015) 38–48]

• Leilei Mei
• Gui Xue
• Zhong-Lin Lu
• Qinghua He
• Miao Wei
• Mingxia Zhang
• Qi Dong
• Chuansheng Chen

YNIMG Journal 2017 Journal Article

Dissociated roles of the parietal and frontal cortices in the scope and control of attention during visual working memory

• Siyao Li
• Ying Cai
• Jing Liu
• Dawei Li
• Zifang Feng
• Chuansheng Chen
• Gui Xue

Mounting evidence suggests that multiple mechanisms underlie working memory capacity. Using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), the current study aimed to provide causal evidence for the neural dissociation of two mechanisms underlying visual working memory (WM) capacity, namely, the scope and control of attention. A change detection task with distractors was used, where a number of colored bars (i. e. , two red bars, four red bars, or two red plus two blue bars) were presented on both sides (Experiment 1) or the center (Experiment 2) of the screen for 100ms, and participants were instructed to remember the red bars and to ignore the blue bars (in both Experiments), as well as to ignore the stimuli on the un-cued side (Experiment 1 only). In both experiments, participants finished three sessions of the task after 15min of 1. 5mA anodal tDCS administered on the right prefrontal cortex (PFC), the right posterior parietal cortex (PPC), and the primary visual cortex (VC), respectively. The VC stimulation served as an active control condition. We found that compared to stimulation on the VC, stimulation on the right PPC specifically increased the visual WM capacity under the no-distractor condition (i. e. , 4 red bars), whereas stimulation on the right PFC specifically increased the visual WM capacity under the distractor condition (i. e. , 2 red bars plus 2 blue bars). These results suggest that the PPC and PFC are involved in the scope and control of attention, respectively. We further showed that compared to central presentation of the stimuli (Experiment 2), bilateral presentation of the stimuli (on both sides of the fixation in Experiment 1) led to an additional demand for attention control. Our results emphasize the dissociated roles of the frontal and parietal lobes in visual WM capacity, and provide a deeper understanding of the neural mechanisms of WM.

YNIMG Journal 2017 Journal Article

The neural circuits for arithmetic principles

• Jie Liu
• Han Zhang
• Chuansheng Chen
• Hui Chen
• Jiaxin Cui
• Xinlin Zhou

Arithmetic principles are the regularities underlying arithmetic computation. Little is known about how the brain supports the processing of arithmetic principles. The current fMRI study examined neural activation and functional connectivity during the processing of verbalized arithmetic principles, as compared to numerical computation and general language processing. As expected, arithmetic principles elicited stronger activation in bilateral horizontal intraparietal sulcus and right supramarginal gyrus than did language processing, and stronger activation in left middle temporal lobe and left orbital part of inferior frontal gyrus than did computation. In contrast, computation elicited greater activation in bilateral horizontal intraparietal sulcus (extending to posterior superior parietal lobule) than did either arithmetic principles or language processing. Functional connectivity analysis with the psychophysiological interaction approach (PPI) showed that left temporal-parietal (MTG-HIPS) connectivity was stronger during the processing of arithmetic principle and language than during computation, whereas parietal-occipital connectivities were stronger during computation than during the processing of arithmetic principles and language. Additionally, the left fronto-parietal (orbital IFG-HIPS) connectivity was stronger during the processing of arithmetic principles than during computation. The results suggest that verbalized arithmetic principles engage a neural network that overlaps but is distinct from the networks for computation and language processing.

YNIMG Journal 2016 Journal Article

Dissociated neural substrates underlying impulsive choice and impulsive action

• Qiang Wang
• Chunhui Chen
• Ying Cai
• Siyao Li
• Xiao Zhao
• Li Zheng
• Hanqi Zhang
• Jing Liu

There is a growing consensus that impulsivity is a multifaceted construct that comprises several components such as impulsive choice and impulsive action. Although impulsive choice and impulsive action have been shown to be the common characteristics of some impulsivity-related psychiatric disorders, surprisingly few studies have directly compared their neural correlates and addressed the question whether they involve common or distinct neural correlates. We addressed this important empirical gap using an individual differences approach that could characterize the functional relevance of neural networks in behaviors. A large sample (n=227) of college students was tested with the delay discounting and stop-signal tasks, and their performances were correlated with the neuroanatomical (gray matter volume, GMV) and functional (resting-state functional connectivity, RSFC) measures, using multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) and 10-fold cross-validation. Behavioral results showed no significant correlation between impulsive choice measured by discounting rate (k) and impulsive action measured by stop signal reaction time (SSRT). The GMVs in the right frontal pole (FP) and left middle frontal gyrus (MFG) were predictive of k, but not SSRT. In contrast, the GMVs in the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), supplementary motor area (SMA), and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) could predict individuals' SSRT, but not k. RSFC analysis using the FP and right IFG as seed regions revealed two distinct networks that correspond well to the “waiting” and “stopping” systems, respectively. Furthermore, the RSFC between the FP and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) was predictive of k, whereas the RSFC between the IFG and pre-SMA was predictive of SSRT. These results demonstrate clearly neural dissociations between impulsive choice and impulsive action, provide new insights into the nature of impulsivity, and have implications for impulsivity-related disorders.

YNIMG Journal 2015 Journal Article

Long-term experience with Chinese language shapes the fusiform asymmetry of English reading

• Leilei Mei
• Gui Xue
• Zhong-Lin Lu
• Chuansheng Chen
• Miao Wei
• Qinghua He
• Qi Dong

Previous studies have suggested differential engagement of the bilateral fusiform gyrus in the processing of Chinese and English. The present study tested the possibility that long-term experience with Chinese language affects the fusiform laterality of English reading by comparing three samples: Chinese speakers, English speakers with Chinese experience, and English speakers without Chinese experience. We found that, when reading words in their respective native language, Chinese and English speakers without Chinese experience differed in functional laterality of the posterior fusiform region (right laterality for Chinese speakers, but left laterality for English speakers). More importantly, compared with English speakers without Chinese experience, English speakers with Chinese experience showed more recruitment of the right posterior fusiform cortex for English words and pseudowords, which is similar to how Chinese speakers processed Chinese. These results suggest that long-term experience with Chinese shapes the fusiform laterality of English reading and have important implications for our understanding of the cross-language influences in terms of neural organization and of the functions of different fusiform subregions in reading.

YNIMG Journal 2015 Journal Article

Native language experience shapes neural basis of addressed and assembled phonologies

• Leilei Mei
• Gui Xue
• Zhong-Lin Lu
• Qinghua He
• Miao Wei
• Mingxia Zhang
• Qi Dong
• Chuansheng Chen

Previous studies have suggested differential engagement of addressed and assembled phonologies in reading Chinese and alphabetic languages (e. g. , English) and the modulatory role of native language in learning to read a second language. However, it is not clear whether native language experience shapes the neural mechanisms of addressed and assembled phonologies. To address this question, we trained native Chinese and native English speakers to read the same artificial language (based on Korean Hangul) either through addressed (i. e. , whole-word mapping) or assembled (i. e. , grapheme-to-phoneme mapping) phonology. We found that, for both native Chinese and native English speakers, addressed phonology relied on the regions in the ventral pathway, whereas assembled phonology depended on the regions in the dorsal pathway. More importantly, we found that the neural mechanisms of addressed and assembled phonologies were shaped by native language experience. Specifically, one key region for addressed phonology (i. e. , the left middle temporal gyrus) showed greater activation for addressed phonology in native Chinese speakers, while one key region for assembled phonology (i. e. , the left supramarginal gyrus) showed more activation for assembled phonology in native English speakers. These results provide direct neuroimaging evidence for the effect of native language experience on the neural mechanisms of phonological access in a new language and support the assimilation–accommodation hypothesis.

YNIMG Journal 2014 Journal Article

Fiber connectivity between the striatum and cortical and subcortical regions is associated with temperaments in Chinese males

• Xuemei Lei
• Chuansheng Chen
• Feng Xue
• Qinghua He
• Chunhui Chen
• Qi Liu
• Robert K. Moyzis
• Gui Xue

The seven-factor biopsychosocial model of personality distinguished four biologically based temperaments and three psychosocially based characters. Previous studies have suggested that the four temperaments—novelty seeking (NS), reward dependence (RD), harm avoidance (HA), and persistence (P)—have their respective neurobiological correlates, especially in the striatum-connected subcortical and cortical networks. However, few studies have investigated their neurobiological basis in the form of fiber connectivity between brain regions. This study correlated temperaments with fiber connectivity between the striatum and subcortical and cortical hub regions in a sample of 50 Chinese adult males. Generally consistent with our hypotheses, results showed that: (1) NS was positively correlated with fiber connectivity from the medial and lateral orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC, lOFC) and amygdala to the striatum; (2) RD was positively correlated with fiber connectivity from the mOFC, posterior cingulate cortex/retrosplenial cortex (PCC), hippocampus, and amygdala to the striatum; (3) HA was positively linked to fiber connectivity from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and PCC to the striatum; and (4) P was positively linked to fiber connectivity from the mOFC to the striatum. These results extended the research on the neurobiological basis of temperaments by identifying their anatomical fiber connectivity correlates within the subcortical–cortical neural networks.

YNIMG Journal 2014 Journal Article

Language-general and -specific white matter microstructural bases for reading

• Mingxia Zhang
• Chuansheng Chen
• Gui Xue
• Zhong-Lin Lu
• Leilei Mei
• Hongli Xue
• Miao Wei
• Qinghua He

In the past decade, several studies have investigated language-general and -specific brain regions for reading. However, very limited research has examined the white matter that connects these cortical regions. By using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), the current study investigated the common and divergent relationship between white matter integrity indexed by fractional anisotropy (FA) and native language reading abilities in 89 Chinese and 93 English speakers. Conjunction analysis revealed that for both groups, reading ability was associated with the FA of seven white matter fiber bundles in two main anatomical locations in the left hemisphere: the dorsal corona radiate/corpus callosum/superior longitudinal fasciculus which might be for phonological access, and the ventral uncinate fasciculus/external capsule/inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus which might be for semantic processing. Contrast analysis showed that the FA of the left temporal part of superior longitudinal fasciculus contributed more to reading in English than in Chinese, which is consistent with the notion that this tract is involved in grapheme-to-phoneme conversion for alphabetic language reading. These results are the first evidence of language-general and –specific white matter microstructural bases for reading.

YNIMG Journal 2014 Journal Article

Neural processes during encoding support durable memory

• Qi Liu
• Qi Dong
• Chuansheng Chen
• Gui Xue

The ability to form durable memory is critical for human survival and development, but its underlying cognitive and neural mechanisms have not been well understood. In particular, existing studies have not clearly dissociated the neural processes supporting short- and long-duration memories. The present study addressed this issue with functional MRI and a modified subsequent memory paradigm. Participants were asked to make semantic judgment on a list of 320 words in the scanner. Half of the words were tested after a short delay (i. e. , 1day, T1) and again after a long delay (i. e. , 1week, T12), whereas the other half were tested only once after the long delay (T2). Materials forgotten during T1 were categorized as forgotten trials, and those remembered during T2 were categorized as long-duration trials. In contrast, trials remembered during T1 but not during T12 were categorized as short-duration trials. We found that compared to forgotten trials, short-duration trials showed decreased activation in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and precuneus, which is consistent with many previous observations. Importantly, long-duration trials showed stronger activity in the left inferior frontal gyrus (LIFG) but less deactivation in the PCC relative to short-duration trials. Psychophysiological interactions (PPI) analysis revealed stronger functional connectivity between LIFG and PCC for long-duration trials than for forgotten trials. Our results suggest that strong PCC activity, in combination with strong LIFG activity, supports long-lasting memory.

YNIMG Journal 2014 Journal Article

Resting-state functional connectivity and reading abilities in first and second languages

• Mingxia Zhang
• Jin Li
• Chuansheng Chen
• Gui Xue
• Zhonglin Lu
• Leilei Mei
• Hongli Xue
• Feng Xue

An intriguing discovery in recent years is that resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) is associated with cognitive performance. The current study investigated whether RSFC within the reading network was correlated with Chinese adults' reading abilities in their native language (L1, Chinese) and second language (L2, English). Results showed that RSFC within the reading network was positively correlated to reading abilities in L1 and L2, and RSFC between reading areas and the default network was negatively correlated to reading abilities in L1 and L2. Further conjunction and contrast analyses revealed that L1 and L2 shared similar RSFC correlates including connectivities between the areas for visual analysis (e. g. , bilateral posterior fusiform gyrus, lateral occipital cortices, and right superior parietal lobules) and those for phonological processing (e. g. , bilateral precentral gyri and postcentral gyrus, Wernicke's area). These results indicate that RSFC is a potential neural marker for reading abilities in both L1 and L2, with important theoretical implications for reading in L1 and L2.

YNIMG Journal 2014 Journal Article

The GABRB1 gene is associated with thalamus volume and modulates the association between thalamus volume and intelligence

• Bi Zhu
• Chuansheng Chen
• Gui Xue
• Xuemei Lei
• Jin Li
• Robert K. Moyzis
• Qi Dong
• Chongde Lin

The GABRB1 gene encodes the beta 1 subunit of the gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor (GABA A receptor), which is responsible for mediating inhibitory neurotransmission in the thalamus. Potential relationships between the GABRB1 gene, thalamus volume, and intelligence have been suggested by previous clinical studies, but have not been directly examined among nonclinical samples. The current study collected structural MRI, genetic, and behavioral data from 316 healthy Chinese adults (including 187 females and 129 males), and examined associations between GABRB1 variants, thalamus volume, and intelligence (measured by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Revised). After controlling for intracranial volume, sex, and age, GABRB1 genetic polymorphism at the SNP rs7435958 had the strongest association with thalamus volume (p =0. 002 and 0. 00008 for left and right thalamus volumes, respectively), with GG homozygotes having smaller bilateral thalamus volumes than the other genotypes. Furthermore, there were positive correlations between bilateral thalamus volumes and intelligence, especially for GABRB1 rs7435958 GG female homozygotes (r's=0. 31 and 0. 29, p <0. 01, for the correlations of intelligence with left and right thalamus volumes, respectively). This study provides the first evidence for the involvement of the GABRB1 gene in the thalamus structure and their interactive effects on intelligence. Future studies of the thalamus–intelligence associations should consider genetic factors as potential moderators.

YNIMG Journal 2014 Journal Article

The SEMA5A gene is associated with hippocampal volume, and their interaction is associated with performance on Raven's Progressive Matrices

• Bi Zhu
• Chuansheng Chen
• Gui Xue
• Robert K. Moyzis
• Qi Dong
• Chunhui Chen
• Jin Li
• Qinghua He

The Allen Brain Atlas shows that the semaphorin 5A (SEMA5A) gene, which encodes an important protein for neurogenesis and neuronal apoptosis, is predominantly expressed in the human hippocampus. Structural and functional neuroimaging studies have further shown that the hippocampus plays an important role in the performance on Raven's Progressive Matrices (RPM), a measure of reasoning ability and general fluid intelligence. Thus far, however, no study has examined the relationships between the SEMA5A gene polymorphism, hippocampal volume, and RPM performance. The current study collected both structural MRI, genetic, and behavioral data in 329 healthy Chinese adults, and examined associations between SEMA5A variants, hippocampal volume, and performance on RAPM (the advanced form of RPM). After controlling for intracranial volume (ICV), sex, and age, SEMA5A genetic polymorphism at the SNP rs42352 had the strongest association with hippocampal volume (p =0. 00000552 and 0. 000103 for right and left hippocampal volumes, respectively), with TT homozygotes having higher hippocampal volume than the other genotypes. Furthermore, there was a high correlation between right hippocampal volume and RAPM performance (r =0. 42, p =0. 0000509) for SEMA5A rs42352 TT homozygotes. This study provides the first evidence for the involvement of the SEMA5A gene in hippocampal structure and their interaction on RAPM performance. Future studies of the hippocampus–RPM associations should consider genetic factors as potential moderators.

YNIMG Journal 2013 Journal Article

The contribution of the left mid-fusiform cortical thickness to Chinese and English reading in a large Chinese sample

• Mingxia Zhang
• Jin Li
• Chuansheng Chen
• Leilei Mei
• Gui Xue
• Zhonglin Lu
• Chunhui Chen
• Qinghua He

Previous functional neuroimaging studies have shown that the left mid-fusiform cortex plays a critical role in reading. However, there is very limited research relating this region's anatomical structure to reading performance either in native or second language. Using structural MRI and three reading tasks (Chinese characters, English words, and alphabetic pseudowords) and a non-reading task (visual–auditory learning), this study investigated the contributions of the left mid-fusiform cortical thickness to reading in a large sample of 226 Chinese subjects. Results showed that the cortical thickness in the left mid-fusiform gyrus was positively correlated with performance on all three reading tasks but not with the performance on the non-reading task. Our findings provide structural evidence for the left mid-fusiform cortex as the “gateway” region for reading Chinese and English. The absence of the association between the left mid-fusiform cortical thickness and non-reading performance implied the specific role of this area in reading skills, not in general language skills.

YNIMG Journal 2013 Journal Article

The NTSR1 gene modulates the association between hippocampal structure and working memory performance

• Jin Li
• Chuansheng Chen
• Xuemei Lei
• Yunxin Wang
• Chunhui Chen
• Qinghua He
• Robert K. Moyzis
• Gui Xue

The genetic and neural basis of working memory (WM) has been extensively studied. Many dopamine (DA) related genes, including the NTSR1 gene (a DA modulator gene), have been reported to be associated with WM performance. The NTSR1 protein is predominantly expressed in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, the latter of which is closely involved in WM processing based on both lesion and fMRI studies. Thus far, however, no study has examined the joint effects of NTSR1 gene polymorphism and hippocampal morphology on WM performance. Participants of the current study were 330 healthy Chinese college students. WM performance was measured with a 2-back WM paradigm. Structural MRI data were acquired and then analyzed using an automated procedure with atlas-based FreeSurfer segmentation software (v 4. 5. 0) package. Linear regression analyses were conducted with a NTSR1 C/T polymorphism which was previously reported to be associated with WM (rs4334545), hippocampal volume, and their interaction as predictors of WM performance, with gender and intracranial volume (ICV) as covariates. Results showed a significant interaction between NTSR1 genotype and hippocampal volume (p <. 05 for both the left and right hippocampi). Further analysis showed that the correlation between hippocampal volume and WM scores was significant for carriers of the NTSR1 T-allele (p <. 05 for both hippocampi), but not for CC homozygotes. These results indicate that the association between hippocampal structure and WM performance was modulated by variation in the NTSR1 gene, and suggest that further studies of brain–behavior associations should take genetic background information into account.

YNIMG Journal 2012 Journal Article

Neural correlates of numbers and mathematical terms

• Han Zhang
• Chuansheng Chen
• Xinlin Zhou

Numerical processing has been demonstrated to be subserved typically by the brain regions around the bilateral intraparietal sulcus (IPS). The goal of the current study was to investigate whether the processing of mathematical terms shared the same brain regions with numerical processing. Healthy adult participants performed semantic distance judgment tasks on five types of materials, including geometric terms, algebraic terms, linguistic terms, words for tools and other common objects, and Arabic numbers. Brain activation was measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The results showed that geometric terms had greater activation than algebraic terms, linguistic terms and tool words in the horizontal IPS, but algebraic terms did not have greater activation than linguistic terms and tool words in this region. Arabic numbers showed greater activation than non-number materials (including geometric terms, algebraic terms, linguistic terms and tool words) in the bilateral IPS, right inferior frontal gyrus and bilateral middle frontal gyrus, but the non-number materials showed stronger activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus and left middle temporal gyrus. These results suggest that the brain area for the processing of numbers (the left IPS) seems to be involved in semantic processing of geometric terms, but not that of other mathematical terms such as algebraic terms. Both algebraic and geometric terms share similar brain organization with basic semantic processing in the left temporal and frontal regions.

YNIMG Journal 2010 Journal Article

The “visual word form area” is involved in successful memory encoding of both words and faces

• Leilei Mei
• Gui Xue
• Chuansheng Chen
• Feng Xue
• Mingxia Zhang
• Qi Dong

Previous studies have identified the critical role of the left fusiform cortex in visual word form processing, learning, and memory. However, this so-called visual word form area's (VWFA) other functions are not clear. In this study, we used fMRI and the subsequent memory paradigm to examine whether the putative VWFA was involved in the processing and successful memory encoding of faces as well as words. Twenty-two native Chinese speakers were recruited to memorize the visual forms of faces and Chinese words. Episodic memory for the studied material was tested 3h after the scan with a recognition test. The fusiform face area (FFA) and the VWFA were functionally defined using separate localizer tasks. We found that, both within and across subjects, stronger activity in the VWFA was associated with better recognition memory of both words and faces. Furthermore, activation in the VWFA did not differ significantly during the encoding of faces and words. Our results revealed the important role of the so-called VWFA in face processing and memory and supported the view that the left mid-fusiform cortex plays a general role in the successful processing and memory of different types of visual objects (i. e. , not limited to visual word forms).

YNIMG Journal 2008 Journal Article

Language experience shapes early electrophysiological responses to visual stimuli: The effects of writing system, stimulus length, and presentation duration

• Gui Xue
• Ting Jiang
• Chuansheng Chen
• Qi Dong

How language experience affects visual word recognition has been a topic of intense interest. Using event-related potentials (ERPs), the present study compared the early electrophysiological responses (i. e. , N1) to familiar and unfamiliar writings under different conditions. Thirteen native Chinese speakers (with English as their second language) were recruited to passively view four types of scripts: Chinese (familiar logographic writings), English (familiar alphabetic writings), Korean Hangul (unfamiliar logographic writings), and Tibetan (unfamiliar alphabetic writings). Stimuli also differed in lexicality (words vs. non-words, for familiar writings only), length (characters/letters vs. words), and presentation duration (100 ms vs. 750 ms). We found no significant differences between words and non-words, and the effect of language experience (familiar vs. unfamiliar) was significantly modulated by stimulus length and writing system, and to a less degree, by presentation duration. That is, the language experience effect (i. e. , a stronger N1 response to familiar writings than to unfamiliar writings) was significant only for alphabetic letters, but not for alphabetic and logographic words. The difference between Chinese characters and unfamiliar logographic characters was significant under the condition of short presentation duration, but not under the condition of long presentation duration. Long stimuli elicited a stronger N1 response than did short stimuli, but this effect was significantly attenuated for familiar writings. These results suggest that N1 response might not reliably differentiate familiar and unfamiliar writings. More importantly, our results suggest that N1 is modulated by visual, linguistic, and task factors, which has important implications for the visual expertise hypothesis.

YNIMG Journal 2007 Journal Article

Dissociated brain organization for single-digit addition and multiplication

• Xinlin Zhou
• Chuansheng Chen
• Yufeng Zang
• Qi Dong
• Chunhui Chen
• Sibing Qiao
• Qiyong Gong

This study compared the patterns of brain activation elicited by single-digit addition and multiplication problems. 20 Chinese undergraduates were asked to verify whether arithmetic equations were true or false during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Results showed that both addition and multiplication were supported by a broad neural system that involved regions within SMA, precentral gyrus, intraparietal sulcus, occipital gyri, superior temporal gyrus, and middle frontal gyrus, as well as some subcortical structures. Nevertheless, addition problems elicited more activation in the intraparietal sulcus and middle occipital gyri at the right hemisphere, and superior occipital gyri at both hemispheres, whereas multiplication had more activation in precentral gyrus, supplementary motor areas, and posterior and anterior superior temporal gyrus at the left hemisphere. This pattern of dissociated activation supports our hypothesis that addition has greater reliance on visuospatial processing and multiplication on verbal processing.

YNIMG Journal 2007 Journal Article

Neural bases of asymmetric language switching in second-language learners: An ER-fMRI study

• Yapeng Wang
• Gui Xue
• Chuansheng Chen
• Feng Xue
• Qi Dong

Using the ER-fMRI technique, the present study was designed to investigate the neural substrates of language switching among second-language learners. Twelve Chinese college students who were learning English were scanned when they performed language switching tasks (naming pictures in their first [L1, Chinese] and second [L2, English] languages according to response cues). Compared to non-switching conditions, language switching elicited greater activation in the right superior prefrontal cortex (BA9/10/32), left middle and superior frontal cortex (BA8/9/46), and right middle cingulum and caudate (BA11). When the direction of switching was considered, forward switching (from L1 to L2), but not backward switching (from L2 to L1), activated several brain regions related to executive functions (i. e. , bilateral frontal cortices and left ACC) relative to non-switching conditions. These results suggest that neural correlates of language switching differ depending on the direction of the switch and that there does not seem to be a specific brain area acting as a “language switch”.

YNIMG Journal 2006 Journal Article

Dissociation in the neural basis underlying Chinese tone and vowel production

• Li Liu
• Danling Peng
• Guosheng Ding
• Zhen Jin
• Lei Zhang
• Ke Li
• Chuansheng Chen

Neuropsychologists have debated over whether the processing of segmental and suprasegmental units involves different neural mechanisms. Focusing on the production of Chinese lexical tones (suprasegmental units) and vowels (segmental units), this study used the adaptation paradigm to investigate a possible neural dissociation for tone and vowel production. Ten native Chinese speakers were asked to name Chinese characters and pinyin (Romanized phonetic system for Chinese language) that varied in terms of tones and vowels. fMRI results showed significant differences in the right inferior frontal gyrus between tone and vowel production (more activation for tones than for vowels). Brain asymmetry analysis further showed that tone production was less left-lateralized than vowel production, although both showed left-hemisphere dominance.

YNIMG Journal 2006 Journal Article

Language experience shapes fusiform activation when processing a logographic artificial language: An fMRI training study

• Gui Xue
• Chuansheng Chen
• Zhen Jin
• Qi Dong

The significant role of the left midfusiform cortex in reading found in recent neuroimaging studies has led to the visual word form area (VWFA) hypothesis. This hypothesis suggests that years of experience reading native language change the visual expertise of this region to be especially sensitive to the visual form of native language. The present study aimed at testing this hypothesis by exploring the role of language experience in shaping the fusiform activation. We designed a logographic artificial language (LAL) using the visual form and pronunciation of Korean Hangul characters (but their correspondence was shuffled) and assigning arbitrary meanings to these characters. Twelve native Chinese Mandarin speakers (6 male and 6 female, 18 to 21 years old) with no prior knowledge of Korean language were trained in the visual form of these characters for 2 weeks, followed by 2 weeks each of phonological and semantic training. Behavioral data indicated that training was effective in increasing the efficiency of visual form processing and establishing the connections among visual form, sounds, and meanings. Imaging data indicated that at the pre-training stage, subjects showed stronger activation in the fusiform regions for LAL than for Chinese across both one-back visual matching task and the passive viewing task. Visual form training significantly decreased the activation of bilateral fusiform cortex and the left inferior occipital cortex, whereas phonological training increased activation in these regions, and the right fusiform remained more active after semantic training. Increased activations after phonological and semantic training were also evident in other regions involved in language processing. These findings thus do not seem to be consistent with the visual-expertise-induced-sensitivity hypothesis about fusiform regions. Instead, our results suggest that visual familiarity, phonological processing, and semantic processing all make significant but different contributions to shaping the fusiform activation.

YNIMG Journal 2004 Journal Article

Mapping of verbal working memory in nonfluent Chinese–English bilinguals with functional MRI

• Gui Xue
• Qi Dong
• Zhen Jin
• Chuansheng Chen

Existing cognitive and neural imaging studies have suggested a frontoparietal network of multiple, cooperative components for verbal working memory (WM). We used functional MRI to investigate whether this neural network is also involved in the processing of second language by nonfluent bilinguals. Twelve (five males, seven females) native Chinese speakers who had limited English proficiency were scanned while performing working memory tasks in Chinese and English. They were asked to make judgment continuously whether the word presented on the screen was semantically related to (i. e. , the semantic tasks) another word presented two words earlier. On a different task (i. e. , the phonological tasks), they were asked to make judgment whether the target word rhymed with the other word. A naming and judgment task in each language was adopted to control for the visual process, initial lexical process, and motor responses. Behavioral data showed that subjects performed better at tasks in their native language (Chinese, L1) than in English (L2). Imaging results showed that all working memory tasks in both L1 and L2 elicited a very similar pattern of left-hemisphere-dominated activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, pars opercularis region, pars triangularis region, precentral cortex, and parietal lobule. Consistent with the behavioral data, the volume of activation in the left opercularis region, left parietal lobule, and right precentral region was greater for L2 than for L1. These results suggest that working memory in L1 and L2 is mediated by a unitary neural system (i. e. , frontoparietal region), which is capable of recruiting surrounding cortical resources to meet the increased computational demand caused by low L2 proficiency.