NYUEast China Normal UniversityNYU Shanghai
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Xing Tian

Xing Tian

Associate Professor of Neural and Cognitive Sciences, NYU Shanghai

Global Network Associate Professor, NYU

Email: xing.tian@nyu.edu

Phone: Pudong Campus: 021-2059-5201; 

            Zhongbei Campus: 021-2059-5996

Office: Pudong Campus: Room 1259, 1555 Century Ave, Shanghai; 

           Zhongbei Campus: Room 140, Geography Building, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai

Faculty Laboratory Website

Research Interests

Cognitive neuroscience, Action and perception, Speech and language, Learning and memory, Mental imagery

Research Summary

Using speech and language as a model, Professor Tian investigates neural representations and computations that mediate human cognitive functions with electrophysiological (MEG/EEG/iEEG), neuroimaging (fMRI) techniques, and behavioral, computational approaches. Specifically, he interests in the relation between motor and sensory systems, and how the dynamics within a system as well as the interaction between systems enable us to produce speech and comprehend language.  He also extends these cognitive neuroscience theories into the research of speech and language learning, underlying mechanisms for symptoms in clinical populations, as well as bridging human cognition and artificial intelligence.

Education Background

2008 Ph.D., Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland

2003 B.S., Physics, Peking University

Work/Research Experience

2015 – present Associate Professor of Neural and Cognitive Sciences, NYU Shanghai

2009 – 2014 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Psychology, New York University

Representative Publications
  1. Li, S., Zhu, H., & Tian, X. (in press). Corollary discharge versus efference copy: Distinct neural signals in speech preparation differentially modulate auditory responses. Cerebral Cortex, bhaa154, https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhaa154  
  2. Teng, X., Ma, M., Yang, J., Blohm, S., Cai, Q., & Tian, X. (2020) Constraint structure of ancient Chinese poetry facilitates speech content grouping. Current Biology, 30(7), 1299-1305. 
  3. Ma, O., & Tian, X. (2019) Distinct mechanisms of imagery differentially influence speech perception. eNeuro, 6(5), 0261-19.2019. 
  4. Zhen, A., Hedger, S., Heald, S., Goldin-Meadow, S., & Tian X. (2019) Manual directional gestures facilitate cross-modal perceptual learning. Cognition, 187, 178-187. 
  5. Tian, X., Ding, N., Teng, X., Bai, F., & Poeppel, D. (2018) Imagined speech influences perceived loudness of sound. Nature Human Behaviour, 2, 225–234.  
  6. Ding, N., Melloni, L., Zhang, H., Tian, X., Poeppel, D. (2016). Cortical tracking of hierarchical linguistic structure in connected speech. Nature Neuroscience. 19(1), 158-164. 
  7. Tian, X., & Huber, D.E. (2013). Playing ‘Duck Duck Goose’ with neurons: Change detection through connectivity reduction. Psychological Science. 24(6), 819–827. 
  8. Tian, X., & Poeppel, D. (2010). Mental imagery of speech and movement implicates the dynamics of internal forward models. Front. Psychology, 1:166. 


    For a full list of publications, click here.