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HAND BOOK for WORKSHOP

Biological Basis of Individual Differences in

Human Social Communicative Abilities ‒

Quantitative Experiments, Computational Methods and Modeling

October 2-5, 2012

Center for Nonlinear Studies

Institute of Computational and Theoretical Studies

Hong Kong Baptist University

Hong Kong

HONG KONG

香港

tjia

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Contents

GENERAL INFORMATION ........................................................................................................................ 2

PROGRAMME ........................................................................................................................................... 3

CAMPUS MAP .......................................................................................................................................... 7

ABSTRACTS ................................................................................................................................................ 8

Richard Roberts .......................................................................................................................... 8

Oliver Wilhelm ............................................................................................................................. 9

Andrea Hildebrandt ................................................................................................................ 10

Werner Sommer ........................................................................................................................ 11

Laura Kaltwasser ...................................................................................................................... 12

Tianzi Jiang ................................................................................................................................ 13

Yong He ..................................................................................................................................... 14

Guang Ouyang ........................................................................................................................ 15

Changsong Zhou ..................................................................................................................... 16

Lixing Zhu ................................................................................................................................... 17

Manuel Martín-Loeches .......................................................................................................... 18

Stefan Schinkel ......................................................................................................................... 19

Cherny Stacey .......................................................................................................................... 20

Astrid Kiy .................................................................................................................................... 21

Sally Olderbak .......................................................................................................................... 22

Janina Künecke ....................................................................................................................... 23

Guillermo Recio ........................................................................................................................ 24

TOUR PLAN IN HONG KONG ................................................................................................................ 25

INFORMATIONS ...................................................................................................................................... 28

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GENERAL INFORMATION

The workshop “Biological Basis of Individual Differences in Human Social Communicative

Abilities --- Quantitative Experiments, Computational Methods and Modeling” aims to bring

together active researchers from overseas, Mainland China and local Hong Kong interested in

the questions of individual differences in social communicative abilities and their neuronal and

genetic underpinnings in order to explore ways to advance progress in the field by exchanging

ideas and developing research strategies and collaborations.

There are 17 speakers invited to give relevant talks from different fields, including research

methods for the study of individual differences, ERP analysis of face recognition, semantic

processing, single trial variability analysis, detection and analysis of brain network, advanced

statistical theory as well as the study of genetic basis of individual difference.

Organizers:

Prof. Werner Sommer

Department of Psychology, Humboldt-University at Berlin, Germany

Dr. Changsong Zhou

Department of Physics and Centre for Nonlinear Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University

Sponsors:

Faculty Research Grant, Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, and

Institute of Computational and Theoretical Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University, and

Hong Kong Baptist University Century Club

Website:

http://cns.hkbu.edu.hk

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PROGRAMME

October 3 October 4

Guang Ouyang6pm

7pm

9am

10am

11am

12am

1pm

2pm

3pm

4pm

5pm

Richard Roberts

Dinner

Yong He

Tea Break

7pm

lunch

Janina Künecke

Tea Break

Astrid Kiy

2pm

3pm

4pm

5pm

6pm

Cherny Stacey

Guillermo Recio

Round Table Discussion

Opening

Oliver Wilhelm

Andrea Hildebrandt

Changsong Zhou

Sally Olderbak

Lixing Zhu

Tea Break

Manuel Martín-LoechesTea Break

Werner Sommer

Laura Kaltwasser

lunch

Tour to HKBU/Group photo

Tianzi Jiang

Stefan Schinkel

9am

10am

11am

12am

1pm

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Notes:

Registration will be conducted during workshop.

This workshop is highly focused, therefore more questions are expected within each talk.

The timing for each talk is arranged as:

Long talk: 50min = ~40 min presentation + ~10 min questions/discussion

Short talk: 30min = ~25 min presentation + ~5 min questions/discussion

Please note that we do not arrange dinner on Oct 4, in order to release more time for

participants to freely explore Hong Kong, especially the night view/life of Hong Kong

Island. On Oct 5 we arrange a one-day tour (from 10 am to 5 pm, details at the end of the

handbook). Participants please be aware of this arrangement so that you can plan your trip

in advance. FYI: http://www.discoverhongkong.com/

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Wednesday, October 3

Section 1, Chair: Werner Sommer

8:30 – 9:30 Registration/Opening

9:30 – 10:20 New Directions in Assessing Social and Emotional Abilities

Richard Roberts (Educational Testing Service, Princeton University)

10:20 – 11:10 Individual Differences in Interpersonal Abilities

Oliver Wilhelm (Department of Psychology, University of Ulm)

11:10 – 11:40 Tea Break

11:40 – 12:30 Structural Equation and Linear Mixed Models in the Study of Individual

Differences in Event-Related Potentials

Andrea Hildebrandt (Department of Psychology, Humboldt-University at Berlin)

12:30 – 14:00 Lunch

14:00 – 14:30 Tour to HKBU and group photo

Section 2, Chair: Tianzi Jiang

14:30 – 15:20 Models of Face Processing and its Neural Underpinnings

Werner Sommer (Department of Psychology, Humboldt University, Berlin)

15:20 – 15:50 Brain-Behavior Relationships of Face Cognition

Laura Kaltwasser (Department of Psychology, Humboldt-University at Berlin)

15:50 – 16:20 Tea Break

16:20 – 17:10 Brainnetome Based on Multimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Tianzi Jiang (Institution of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing)

17:10 – 18:00 Imaging Structural and Functional Connectomics: Methods and Applications

Yong He (State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing

Normal University)

18:00 – 18:30 A New Method to Study the Variability Information in Single Trial ERPs –

Residue Iteration Decomposition (RIDE)

Guang Ouyang (Department of Physics & Centre for Nonlinear Studies, Hong

Kong Baptist University)

18:30 – 21:00 Dinner

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Thursday, October 4

Section 3, Chair: Oliver Wilhelm

9:00 – 9:50 Brain as Complex Dynamical Network Systems

Changsong Zhou (Department of Physics & Centre for Nonlinear Studies, Hong

Kong Baptist University)

9:50 – 10:40 Sliced Inverse Regression: A Nonparametric Principal Component Regression

Lixing Zhu (Department of Mathematics, Hong Kong Baptist University)

10:40 – 11:10 Tea Break

11:10 – 12:00 On Syntax and Semantics and Their Interplay During Sentence Processing:

and Ongoing Enterprise

Manuel Martin-Loeches (Center for Human Evolution, Universidad Complutense

Madrid)

12:00 – 12:50 Reconstruction of Time-evolving Functional Brain Networks During Face and

Word processing

Stefan Schinkel (Department of Physics and Department of Psychology, Humboldt

University, Berlin)

12:50 – 14:30 Lunch

Section 4, Chair: Cherny Stacey

14:30 – 15:20 Using Twins, Adoptees, or Molecular Data to Separate Genetic from

Environmental Causes of Variation Among Individuals

Stacey Cherny (State Key Lab of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Hong Kong

University)

15:20 – 15:50 On the Genetic Basis of Face Cognition and Fluid Cognitive Ability: Effects of

COMT (val158met) and OXTR (rs2268498)

Astrid Kiy (Department of Psychology, Humboldt-University at Berlin)

15:50 – 16:20 Tea Break

16:20 – 17:10 Psychometric Issues and Recommendations in Scoring the Production of

Emotion Expressions

Sally Olderbek (Department of Psychology, University of Ulm, Germany)

17:10 – 17:40 Unintentional Facial Mimicry and Interpersonal Abilities

Janina Kuenecke (Department of Psychology, Humboldt-University at Berlin)

17:40 – 18:10 Neuronal Correlates of Perceiving Facial Expressions of Emotion: Brain-

behavior Relationships

Guillermo Recio (Department of Psychology, Humboldt-University at Berlin)

18:10 – 19:20 Round Table Discussion

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Workshop venue, Sir Run Run Shaw Building, R905

NTT international House

Workshop venue, Sir Run Run Shaw Building, R905

NTT international House

CAMPUS MAP

http://goo.gl/maps/vZF2

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ABSTRACTS

Richard Roberts

New Directions in Assessing Social and Emotional Abilities

Abstract: In this presentation, I will discuss a program of research devoted to assessing social and emotional abilities

using new methods (e.g., anchoring vignettes, multimedia situational judgment tests) and advanced psychometric

models (such as latent class models). Studies covered in the presentation include an ongoing longitudinal investigation

of nearly 2000 middle school students; 722 undergraduate students given a battery of 15 cognitive tests, over 500

personality items, and a range of measures of emotion perception and emotion management; and a study of nearly 500

teachers given affective measures. Results suggest these new methods capture constructs that are a form of intelligence

independent of personality, with meaningful prediction of valued educational, work, and life outcomes. These new

methods and models hold promise for advancing our scientific understanding of social and emotional abilities.

Biography Sketch

Richard D. Roberts, Ph.D., is a Managing Principal Research Scientist in the Center for Academic and Workforce

Readiness and Success Educational Testing Service’s Research & Development Division, Princeton, New Jersey. A former

National Research Council Fellow who conducted research at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas, on the ASVAB, cognitive

processing, and personality measures he was also a Senior Lecturer at The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, from

1998 to 2003 and an Adjunct Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, New York in 2009-2010. His main areas

of specialization are assessment and human individual differences, and he has published a dozen books (for MIT, Oxford,

and APA Press) and over 150 peer-review articles or book chapters on these topics, with a near equal number of

presentations around the world. He has also received significant grants and contracts (including a recent contract with

IARPA to develop the Assessment of Biases in Cognition Battery), as well as several professional honors, including two

ETS Presidential Awards and two PROSE awards from the Association of American Publishers. He is currently Associate

Editor of The International Journal of Psychology and Section Editor (Personality) for the forthcoming International

Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences, Second Edition.

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Oliver Wilhelm

Individual Differences in Interpersonal Abilities

Abstract: A profound understanding of individual differences in interpersonal and emotional abilities must be based on

a) a solid understanding of what the mind does when solving such problems and b) a multivariate approach that allows

abstracting from task specificities. If successful such a research program presents solid evidence of the distinctness and

uniqueness of newly proposed constructs. In this talk we will present a series of studies on perceiving and recognizing

the identity and emotion in unfamiliar faces and we will argue that we were successful in meeting the above criteria.

More specifically we initially established speed and accuracy factors for face perception and face recognition, we

replicated these factors several times. We went on regressing these supposedly new abilities on established ability

factors and found substantial residual variance in all accuracy related face factors. The speed face factors could be

completely accounted for with speed tasks that had no interpersonal component at all. We studied age related changes

in the accuracy factors and found that there were dramatic age related losses but that the factor space essentially

remained invariant across age. In a more recent study we developed measures of emotion perception, memory for

emotional expressions in the face, the speed of emotion perception, and the speed of recognizing emotional expressions

from memory. These measures of emotional abilities were administered along with the measures of face perception and

face recognition and established ability factors. The results show that the speed measures did not capture individual

differences that were emotion specific. Accuracy factors for emotion perception and emotion recognition showed little

uniqueness. We will critically discuss these results.

Biography Sketch

URL: http://www.uni-ulm.de/in/psy-paed/professuren/dia/

2000 Dr. phil. (Psychology), Universität Mannheim

2000-2001 Visiting Professor, School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology

2001-2002 Postdoc University of Arizona

2002-2006 Assistant Professor of Psychological Assessment Humboldt University at Berlin

2006-2010 Associate Professor of Educational and Psychological Assessment Humboldt University at Berlin

2010-2011 Full Professor of Educational and Psychological Assessment University Duisburg-Essen

Since 2011 Full Professor of Psychological Assessment University Ulm

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Andrea Hildebrandt

Structural Equation and Linear Mixed Models in the Study of Individual Differences in Event-Related

Potentials

Abstract: In this talk I will give a brief introduction to Structural Equation and Mixed-Effects Modeling. Structural

equation modelling (of change) is a technique widely used in the behavioural sciences, but several applications to event-

related potentials and neuroimaging data are available. I will review some of these applications and highlight

connections between the two analytic approaches. I will exemplify the usefulness of Latent Residual, Latent Difference

and Latent Growth Models for investigating individual differences in event-related potentials on components that are

defined as difference waves and have been related to face and emotion processing.

Biography Sketch

2005 Student Assistant, Eligo Unternehmen für Psychologische Personalsoftware, Bochum - Büro Berlin

2005-2007 Student Assistant, Max-Planck-Institute for Human Development, Berlin

2007 Diploma (Psychology), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

2007-2010 Research scientist, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institut zur Qualitätsentwicklung im Bildungswesen (IQB)

2010 Dr. rer. nat. (Psychology), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HUB)

2010-2011 Research scientist, University Duisburg-Essen, Educational and Psychological Assessment

Since 2011 Research scientist, Humboldt-Universität

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Werner Sommer

Models of Face Processing and its Neural Underpinnings

Abstract: The quick and correct processing of faces (person identity, emotion, speech movements, gender,

attractiveness) is essential for human communication and interaction. Although much work has been done on the

general processes and mechanisms of this astonishing human ability, there is much less research on the large

differences between individual humans.

I will first explain cognitive models of face processing and the neural underpinnings derived from experimental and

clinical work. Then I will turn to individual differences in face cognition with a focus on how our research with event-

related brain potentials has contributed to elucidate the underlying neurocognitive mechanisms.

Biography Sketch

1982 Dr. rer. soc. (Psychology), University of Konstanz

1982-1994 Research scientist, Physiological Psychology unit, University of Konstanz

Since 1995 Professor of Biological Psychology and Psychophysiology, Department of Psychology, Humboldt-University at

Berlin

1996-1998 Head of the Department of Psychology

1997-1998 Speaker of Graduate School GRK 423 “Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience”

2006-2009 Speaker of DFG Research Group “Conflicts as Signals in Cognitive Systems”

2008-2010 Director “Interdisciplinary Research Center for Conflicts in Intelligent Systems”

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Laura Kaltwasser

Brain-Behavior relationships of face cognition

Abstract: One goal of our present research is to reveal neural processes which underlie interindividual differences in

performance measures of face cognition (perceiving, learning and recognizing faces). However the psychometric

measurement models that are used to establish such brain-behavior relationships on a latent level presuppose certain

prerequisites on the physiological data. Indeed small modifications of the experimental task in the recording session

have been shown to alter the possibility to model particular ERPs as latent factors to a different extent. Using a priming

paradigm we replicated and improved a structural equation model (SEM) linking the N170 as an indicator of configural

encoding to abilities of face perception, face memory and face cognition speed. However the use of a mask stimulus

significantly reduced memory related ERPs such as the ERE and the LRE and therefore made them less suitable for SEM

due to a reduced variance of these difference waves. I want propose alternative ways to model difference waves on a

latent level (Latent Change Models) and discuss the role of task effects in the establishment of brain-behavior

relationships.

Biography Sketch

2008-2010: Student Research Assistant at Max Planck Institute for Human Development (Berlin) - “Neuromodulation of

Lifespan Cognition”

2010-2011: Exchange Student and Visiting Scholar at UC Berkeley - Knight Lab

2011-2012: Student Research Assistant at the Department of Biological Psychology at Humboldt-University - DFG

Project “Conflicts as Signals”

2012: Diplom in Psychology (M.Sc.)

Thesis Title: Independence of valence and reward in emotional word processing.

since 2012: Research Assistant at the Department of Biological Psychology at Humboldt-University - DFG Project

"Interindividual differences in emotion expression, emotion recognition and face cognition"

PhD student at the Graduate School of Mind & Brain (Berlin)

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Tianzi Jiang

Brainnetome Based on Multimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract: Convergent evidence has shown that the psychiatric disorders are faulty brain networks. In order to

understand the pathophysiological mechanism of psychiatric disorders, it is necessary to integrate the multi-level

network features obtained with various functional and anatomical brain imaging technologies on different scales. On

macroscale, such features can be obtained from networks based on illness special region of interest, networks related to

specific cognitive function, and whole brain networks. We have proposed a new concept of “brainnetome” to represent

such integration framework. We defined the essential components of Brainnetome as network topological structure

(connectome), performance, dynamics, manifestation of functions and malfunctions of brain on different scales, the

genetic basis of brain networks, and the simulating and modeling brain networks on supercomputing facilities

(www.brainnetome.org). This presentation will cover the above aspects of brainnetome. We first give a brief review

about the brainnetome. Then functional brain networks based on the resting-state functional MRI will be presented.

After that, brain networks based on diffusion MRI will be presented. We will also present some new findings on

abnormalities of functional connectivity and networks of human brain with neurological and psychiatric diseases,

especially Alzheimer's Diseases, Schizophrenia. Finally, some perspective and future research directions will be touched.

It envisions that brainnetome will become an emerging co-frontier of brain imaging, information technology, neurology

and psychiatry. Some long-standing issues in neuropsychiatry may be solved by combining brainnetome with genome.

Biography Sketch

Dr. Tianzi Jiang is Professor of Brain Imaging and Cognitive Disorders, Institute Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences,

and Professor of Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland. He received his Ph.D. degree in computational

mathematics from Zhejiang University in1994. After he graduated, he worked as a postdoctoral research fellow (1994-

1996) and an Associate Professor (1996-1999), and full professor (1999-present) at his current institution. During that

time, he worked as a Vice-Chancellor's postdoctoral fellow at the University of New South Wales, a visiting scientist at

Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, a research fellow at the Queen’s University of Belfast, and

a visiting professor at University of Houston. He is the Chinese Director of the Sino-French Laboratory in Computer

Science, Automation and Applied Mathematics (LIAMA), one National Center for International Research, since 2006. His

research interests include neuroimaging, Brainnetome, imaging genetics, and their clinical applications in brain disorders

and development. He is the author or co-author of over 170 reviewed journal papers in these fields and the co-editor of

six issues of the Lecture Notes in Computer Sciences.

Dr. Jiang is Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging, IEEE Transactions on Autonomous Mental

Development, Neuroscience Bulletin and an Academic Editor of PLoS One. He was/is also on editorial boards of several

international journals, including NeuroImage, Cognitive Neurodynamics, International Journal of Computer mathematics,

Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics. He served and is serving as the Chairs and Program Committee members of a

number of international conferences, including General Chair of MICCAI’2010. He was awarded the National

Distinguished Youth Foundations by Chinese Government (2004), the Natural Science Award of China (2004), and the

Natural Science Award of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (1996).

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Yong He

Imaging Structural and Functional Connectomics: Methods and Applications

Abstract: The human brain is structurally and functionally organized into complex networks allowing the segregation

and integration of information processing. In the past decade, researchers have demonstrated that by combining a

variety of different imaging technologies [e.g. structural MRI, diffusion MRI and functional MRI (fMRI)] with

sophisticated analytic strategies such as graph theory, it is possible to noninvasively map the patterns of structural and

functional connectivity of the human brain (known as the “human connectome”). Specifically, by modeling the brain as a

complex network, graph theoretical analysis provides an uncomplicated but powerful mathematical framework for

characterizing topological properties of the brain networks such as modularity, efficiency, and hubs. In this talk, I will

present our recent work in the graph theoretical analysis of brain networks derived from multimodal imaging techniques,

including areas of methods and applications in health and disease.

Biography Sketch

Dr. Yong He obtained his Ph.D. in pattern recognition from the Chinese Academy Sciences in 2005 and was a

postdoctoral research fellow in neuroimaging and brain connectivity between 2005 and 2007 at the Montreal

Neurological Institute, McGill University. Since January 2008, he is an Investigator at the State Key Laboratory of

Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University. His research interests are in the methodology and

applications of human brain connectome by using structural MRI, diffusion MRI and resting-state fMRI. He has served on

the organizing, reviewing and program committees of several international conferences (OHBM, MICCAI and MIAR). He

is currently an Editor of Brain Connectivity, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience and PLoS ONE. To date, he has authored or

co-authored 80 peer-reviewed journal articles.

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Guang Ouyang

A new method to study the variability information in single trial ERPs – Residue Iteration Decomposition

(RIDE)

Abstract: The average ERP method loses all the variability information hidden in single trials which may account for

performance of brain response. The response speed can vary in the cognitive process from stage to stage, such as signal

perception, evaluation and response selection. Our method Residue Iteration Decomposition (RIDE) is proposed to

decompose ERP into different component clusters, each of which has varying latency and amplitude across single trials.

The separated components can be then associated with different functional processes basing on their features. The

main contribution of RIDE to ERP research is that it extends the analysis of variability information from stage to stage

(cognitive), trial to trial and even across the subjects, therefore the study of brain response variability can be brought

into a deeper level.

Biography Sketch

2005-2009, Bachelor, Nanjing University, Theoretical Physics.

2009-present, PhD, Hong Kong Baptist University, Study the dynamical mechanism of brain response variability

2011, Research visitor to Humboldt University at Berlin, Germany

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Changsong Zhou

Brain as Dynamical Complex Network Systems

Abstract: Neural networks in the brain display highly complex structure and dynamics as a physical complex network

system. In this presentation I will summarize some recent progress in the field in understanding the complexity in the

structure and dynamics of the brain. I will also present some of our recent works on the analysis and modeling of brain

activity from the view point of complex network systems and our future research plans.

Biography Sketch

Dr. Zhou is associate Professor at the Department of Physics and Director of Centre for Nonlinear Studies, Hong Kong

Baptist University. He obtained his doctoral degree at Nankai University, Tianjin, and has served as Postdoctoral Fellow,

National University of Singapore (1997-1999), subsequently joining HKBU as Visiting Research Scholar, then became

Research Scientist, University of Potsdam, Germany (2000-2007), before taking up his current position. Dr. Zhou’s

research interest is analysis and modeling of dynamical processes on complex systems. His work emphasizes

understanding the structure-dynamics-function relationship in complex network systems by studying the impact of

complex network connection topology on oscillation and synchronization of oscillators which are relevant in many

physical, biological and social systems. His current emphasis is on analysis and modeling electrical activity in neural

systems using the approaches of oscillatory dynamics networks, covering broad scales from network of neurons to

interacting functional brain regions. He studies the formation of complex network architecture under multiple

competing constraints or due to co-evolution of structure and dynamics. Dr. Zhou has authored one monograph and

more than 90 refereed papers. He is the editorial board members of PLoS One and Scientific Reports.

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Lixing Zhu

Sliced Inverse Regression: A Nonparametric Principal Component Regression

Abstract: In this talk, I will briefly introduce a recently developed methodology that could be regarded as a

nonparametric principal component regression. This method can efficiently reduce the dimension of predictor vector via

extracting informative linear combinations of the predictor vector. We also introduce the recent developments in this

area.

Biography Sketch

Prof. Lixing Zhu, Chair Professor and Head of Department of Mathematics, Hong Kong Baptist University, Fellow of

American Statistical Association, Fellow of Institute of Mathematical Statistics. Prof. Zhu received his Ph.D. degree in

1990 from Chinese Academic of Sciences. His research interests include high-dimensional data analysis, time series,

non/semi-parametric statistics, empirical process theory, biostatistics and Bioinformatics. Prof. Zhu is the Humboldt

Research Awardee in 2000 for Senior Scientists, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany. He has published

more than 200 peer-reviewed papers, and has served on the editorial boards of 5 international journals including

Statistica Sinica.

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Manuel Martín-Loeches

On syntax and semantics and their interplay during sentence processing: and ongoing enterprise

Abstract: My presentation will mainly consist of a summary of the research developed in my lab during the last ten

years, mainly on syntactic and semantic processing of sentences. First, the attendant will be introduced to the

electrophysiological signals revealing the moments at which the brain performs syntactic and semantic analyses of

words within a sentence. Thereafter, models of sentence processing at these two linguistic levels will be described, with

special concern on the interplay between them. Namely, it is a traditional debate in psycholinguistics whether syntax

prevails over semantics during sentence processing, or whether they are independent and relatively isolated streams

interacting only at later stages. Several findings from our lab support the latter view, as well as the possibility that

semantics might be the prevailing information during sentence processing, at least occasionally. Recent developments in

which emotional information – as part of the semantic frame – of the linguistic material is experimentally manipulated

suggest that the relevance of semantics over syntax could go beyond and be more frequent than traditionally assumed.

Biography Sketch

Graduated in Psychology in the Autonoma University of Madrid, in 1987; receiving his PhD in 1991 at the Complutense

University of Madrid, with a doctorate in Psychobiology. He has also a Master’s degree in Brain Mapping (Complutense

University, 1991).

He is currently a Professor of Psychobiology in the Education Faculty of the Complutense University, as well as the

director of the Cognitive neuroscience section of the Center UCM-ISCIII for human Evolution and Behavior.

His currently more developed research interest is in Psycholinguistics, using ERPs as main technique. However, he has

studied a number of cognitive processes and their dysfunctions along his career. In brief, the topics of interest have

included working memory, selective attention, arithmetic processing, and emotional processing; dysfunctions studied

mainly comprise Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. All the topics approached, including language processing, have

one and main quest: to better understand the evolution of human mind and brain.

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Stefan Schinkel

Reconstruction of time-evolving functional brain networks during face and word processing

Abstract: Complex networks provide an excellent framework for studying the function of the human brain activity. Yet

estimating functional networks from measured signals is not trivial, especially if the data is non-stationary and noisy as it

is often the case with physiological recordings. In this talk we propose a method that uses the local rank structure of the

data to define functional links in terms of identical rank structures. The method yields temporal sequences of networks

which permits to trace the evolution of the functional connectivity during the time course of the observation. We

demonstrate the potentials of this approach with experimental data from electrophysiological studies on language and

face processing.

Biography Sketch

2006 - Dipl.-ling, University Potsdam (Master in General Linguistics)

2010 - Dr. phil., University Potsdam (PhD in Cognitive Sciences)

since 2007 Research Scientist FOR 868: "Computational Modeling of Behavioral, Cognitive, and Neural Dynamics"

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Cherny Stacey

Using twins, adoptees, or molecular data to separate genetic from environmental causes of variation among

individuals

Abstract: I will present standard methods in the field of behavior genetics that use twin and family data to partition

population trait variation into genetic and shared and nonshared environmental components. In addition, methods for

identifying specific genetic loci predisposing to complex disease or explaining normal variation will be discussed. Finally,

new methods which use molecular marker data Examples from the fields of psychology and medicine will be used to

illustrate these methods.

Biography Sketch

Dr. Cherny is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and a Principal Investigator in the State Key Laboratory for Brain and

Cognitive Sciences. He received his PhD in in behavior genetics from the University of Colorado in 1995, appointed

Lecturer in Statistical Genetics at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, and promoted to Senior Lecturer in

1999. He then moved to the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, where he assumed the position of Head of

Statistical Genetics. He is an active member of the Behavior Genetics Association, having served as Member-at-large and

Treasurer of the Association. He has been an Associate Editor of the journal Behavior Genetics since 1997 and is a

member of the Advisory Board of the Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry. While his current research focuses mainly

on the genetics of human complex diseases, he has worked on the genetics of cognitive abilities (including reading

disabilities), personality and temperament, and substance abuse. He also develops statistical tools and applies them to

the genetic dissection and mapping of qualitative and quantitative traits.

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Astrid Kiy

On the genetic basis of face cognition and fluid cognitive ability: Effects of COMT (val158met) and OXTR

(rs2268498)

Abstract: The oxytocin and the dopaminergic system have turned out to be highly relevant for social abilities and

cognition. Therefore, we examined the effects of two functional gene polymorphisms on face cognition (FC) in a

multivariate study (N = 250) by applying structural equation modeling (SEM). The Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT)-

val158met polymorphism influences the enzyme activity of COMT, which affects the prefrontal dopamine concentration

and rs226849 is a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located in the promotor region of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR)

gene modulating mRNA expression. By modeling a general factor of fluid abilities (defined by working memory and

reasoning) and nested FC factors we tested genetic contributions to FC after controlling for variance in FC that is also

associated with fluid abilities. In line with previous studies, we found significant effects of the COMT genotype on fluid

intelligence (Gf) but not on FC. The effects of the oxytocin polymorphism on Gf was opposite in direction for men and

women. Women with a higher oxytocin receptor expression rate showed better Gf, but men with a lower expression

rate performed better on tasks measuring Gf. There was no significant effect of OXTR on the nested FC factor. Therefore,

the relationship between the oxytocin polymorphism and FC can be fully accounted for by fluid cognition. The sex

specificity of this relationship is a novel finding and warrants mechanistic explanation.

Biography Sketch

2004-2006: Study of Biology (basic studies) at University Bayreuth

2006-2010: Study of Biology (main studies) at University Würzburg with focus on behavioral biology, neurobiology and

biological psychology

2010: Biology Diploma

Since 09/2010: Research assistant in the collaborative project of the University Ulm and the Humboldt-University Berlin:

"Interindividual differences in emotion expression, emotion perception and face cognition"

Since 01/2011: Doctoral studies with focus on gene - behavior relationships for interpersonal abilities

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Sally Olderbak

Psychometric Issues and Recommendations in Scoring the Production of Emotion Expressions

Abstract: The production of emotion expression in faces and voices is a separate, but related factor, within the broader

domain of socio-interpersonal-emotional abilities. Defining and effectively measuring emotion expression has important

implications for the applied field and is important as an additional component in communication. A variety of

workgroups have developed computer programs that automatically assess emotion expression in faces, and there are

many software programs that automatically score the voice and recommendations for assessing emotional prosody, yet

the assessment of emotion expression as an ability is relatively unexplored.

This presentation will illustrate the theory of emotion expression ability, the development of tasks designed to elicit

individual differences in ability, including in the face and voice, discuss available support technology, identify

psychometric issues with scoring, and propose recommended final data treatment and scoring methods.

Biography Sketch

2006-2007 - Teaching Assistant, University of Arizona

2007-2009 - Research Assistant, Evaluation, Research, & Development Unit, University of Arizona

2008 - Master of Arts (Psychology), University of Arizona

2008-2011 - Graduate Statistics Lab Instructor, University of Arizona

2011 - Dr. phil. (Psychology), University of Arizona

Since 2011 - Research Scientist, Individual Differences & Psychological Assessment Unit, University Ulm

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Janina Künecke

Unintentional facial mimicry and interpersonal abilities

Abstract: Embodiment Theories postulate a functional role of internal simulation for the recognition of perceived facial

expressions of emotions. There is empirical evidence of automatic mimicry in several face muscles while seeing

emotional facial expressions. However, the level of associations between mimicry and concepts of emotional or social

intelligence is still unknown. This talk will focus on individual differences in unintentional mimicry and emotion

recognition abilities. A sample of N=250 participants worked on different tasks measuring general cognitive abilities,

along with perception and memory for faces, objects, and emotional facial expressions. A subsample of N=110

participants additionally performed an emotion classification task during EMG recording. Stimuli consisted of natural

and dynamic expressions of basic emotions (Ekman). Mean amplitude of the Corrugator supercilii in response to angry,

happy and sad facial expressions, was defined as an indicator in a confirmatory factor analysis. One second order

mimicry factor subsuming three emotion specific factors could be established. Structural equation modeling showed a

substantial positive relation between the mimicry factor and a latent emotion perception factor. We conclude that it is

feasible to obtain a reliable measurement of spontaneous imitation driven facial mimicry. Furthermore, this speaks for a

functional role of unintentional mimicry for behavioral emotion perception abilities.

Biography Sketch

High-school Diploma in June 2006

BA German Literature and Cultural Science at Humboldt-University of Berlin (WS 06/07 – SS 07)

Change to Diploma of Psychology at Humboldt-University of Berlin (since WS 07/08)

Main Area: Cognitive Psychology and Neuropsychology

Prospective end in September 2012

Student assistant at the Institute of quality management of Education in Berlin (IQB) (1.10.08 - 30.9.2010)

Scientific internship at the Psychiatric University Clinic of Bern (UPD) (1.11.2009 - 31.3.2010)

Student assistant at the Institute of Psychology – department of Biological Psychology - at Humboldt-University of Berlin

(1.10.2010 – 30.9.2012)

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Guillermo Recio

Neuronal correlates of perceiving facial expressions of emotion: Brain-behavior relationships

Abstract: Psychophysiological studies have identified several components of event-related potentials reflecting the

processing of emotional faces. Around 200 ms after stimulus onset, the early posterior negative (EPN) is considered as

an index of an early allocation of attention. Following the EPN, the late positive complex (LPC) reflects elaborate

processing of emotional stimuli at later stages. In this talk I will present data from ca. 100 participants on the specificity

and reliability of these emotion-related ERP components for six dynamically presented facial expressions of emotion.

Neural data will be related to psychometrically measured interpersonal abilities.

Biography Sketch

During my PhD I have been investigating the perception emotion in stimuli of different kind like faces and words with

help of electrophysiological techniques, mainly ERPs and EMG. I am particularly interested in the dynamic aspects of

facial expressions, the recognition of emotion through multiple channels in complex stimuli (audio visual integration),

explicit and implicit production of facial expressions, and individual differences in both recognition and production.

2005 M.Sc. Psychology Universidad Complutense Madrid

Since 2007 PhD Candidate Humboldt Universitaet Berlin

Since 2008 Junior Researcher in the following Projects:

- Emotions in word and face processing, HU Berlin

- Internal vs. intrinsic optimization after conflicts, HU Berlin

- Bilingualism and emotional effects at reading, FU Berlin

- Individual differences in emotion expression, emotion detection and face cognition, Universitaet Ulm

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TOUR PLAN IN HONG KONG

October 5

NTT international house: 32 Renfrew Road, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

10am

11am

5pm

Bus: from NTT (HKBU) to Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal, Check in

enjoy panoramic views of the Hong Kong International Airport, South

China Sea, the Tian Tan Buddha Statue, as well as the flora and fauna

of North Lantau Country Park

Walk through the Ngong Ping , photo taking, shopping, local shows

Visit Tian Tan Buddha

Bus to Tai O

Seefood Lunch in Tai O

6pm

after

12am

1pm

2pm

free

Stroll around Tai O to learn more about this traditional fishing village

Bus back to NTT (HKBU)

3pm

4pm

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INTRODUCTION OF THE TOUR

http://www.np360.com.hk/en/

Ngong Ping 360

Ngong Ping 360 is destined to be one of Hong Kong's 'must see' tourist

attractions on Lantau Island. Preserving the natural ecological environment and

features of the Ngong Ping area and converging the custom and culture of the

Lantau Island, Ngong Ping 360 is sure to refresh your body and enlighten your

mind, as soon as you step on the Cable Car.

Ngong Ping Cable Car is a visually spectacular 5.7km cable car journey,

travelling between Tung Chung Town Centre and Ngong Ping on Lantau

Island. Visitors will enjoy panoramic views of the Hong Kong International

Airport, South China Sea, the Tian Tan Buddha Statue, as well as the flora and

fauna of North Lantau Country Park.

Adjacent to the Ngong Ping Cable Car Terminal, Ngong Ping Village is an

impressive cultural themed village, incorporating two major attractions,

including Walking with Buddha and the Monkey's Tale Theatre

For a more cultural and religious experience, the world's tallest seated outdoor

bronze Buddha, the Tian Tan Buddha Statue, is only a short stroll from the

Ngong Ping Village. Tian Tan Buddha Statue is the major centre for Buddhism

in Hong Kong and is located next to the Po Lin Monastery.

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Tai O Fishing Village and Stilt-house

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/canada/attractions/outlying-taio-fishing-village.html

For a look at a rare example of a Chinese stilt-house community, head to the far

northwestern coast edge of Lantau Island. This is home to the Tanka people, a

community of fisher folk who have built their homes on stilts above the tidal flats for generations because

they do not feel safe on land.

Their enchanting world is an amateur photographer's paradise .

Interestingly, a new manually-operated drawbridge spans the

narrow creek that divides the town. It replaces an old-fashioned

rope-drawn "ferry" that operated for over 85 years! The village is

accessible by an hour-long bus ride from Mui Wo or Tung Chung.

Kwan Tai Temple

This temple honours Kwan Tai, the God of War and Righteousness and

was built in the reign of Hong Zhi (1488 – 1505 A.D.) during the Ming

dynasty. In real life, Kwan Tai was a general renowned for his loyalty and

is said to protect devotees from evil.

Yeung Hau Temple

This temple honours Hau Wong, a local court official from the late Sung

dynasty in the 12 70s whose real name was Yang Lianghie. A bell cast in

the 38th year of the Kangxi (1699) was also placed in the temple.

Tai O Market

Browsing in the stalls and shops around Tai O is always a lot of

fun, too. Be sure to check out the locally produced shrimp paste

and salted fish for a unique culinary experience

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INFORMATIONS

Useful websites:

Transportation, touring, dinning, playing in Hong Kong:

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/

Hong Kong local weather

http://www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm

Transportation to airport:

A: take bus E22, directly to Airport

B: take taxi

http://goo.gl/maps/vZF2

E22 bus

stop to

Airport

NTT

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Famous Travel Places:

Sai Kung

Victoria Harbour

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The Peak

Lan Kwai Fong