Dr YEUNG, Kin Chung Michael    楊健忠 博士
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychology
Contact
ORCiD
0000-0001-6699-6080
Phone
(852) 2948 8385
Email
michaelyeung@eduhk.hk
Address
10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong
Scopus ID
56400385600
Research Outputs

Journal Publications
Michael K. Yeung, Jaden Cheuk-Hei Wan, Michelle Mei-Ka Chan, Sam Ho-Yu Cheung, Steven Chun-Yui Sze & Winnie Wing-Yi Siu (2024). Motivation and emotional distraction interact and affect executive functions. BMC Psychology, 12 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01695-9
Michael K. Yeung (2024). Effects of age on the interactions of attentional and emotional processes: A prefrontal fNIRS study. Cognition and Emotion https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2024.2311799
Michael K. Yeung (2024). Metamemory and executive function mediate the age-related decline in memory. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617723011451
Michael K. Yeung (2023). Effects of age, gender, and education on task performance and prefrontal cortex processing during emotional and non-emotional verbal fluency tests. Brain and Language, 245 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandl.2023.105325
Michael K. Yeung (2023). The prefrontal cortex is differentially involved in implicit and explicit facial emotion processing: An fNIRS study. Biological Psychology, 181 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108619
Yeung, M. K. (2023). Context-specific effects of threatening faces on alerting, orienting, and executive control: A fNIRS study. Heliyon, 9 (5) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15995
Yeung, K.C. (2023). The Prefrontal Cortex Is Differentially Involved in Implicit and Explicit Facial Emotion Processing: An fNIRS Study. Biological Psychology, 181, 108619.
Yeung, M. K., & Han, Y. M. Y. (2023). Changes in task performance and frontal cortex activation within and over sessions during the n-back task. Scientific Reports, 13 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30552-9
Michael K. Yeung (2022). Frontal cortical activation during emotional and non-emotional verbal fluency tests. Scientific Reports, 12 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-12559-w
Chan, M. M., Chan, M. C., Yeung, M. K., Wang, S. M., Liu, D., & Han, Y. M. (2022). Aberrant prefrontal functional connectivity during verbal fluency test is associated with reading comprehension deficits in autism spectrum disorder: An fNIRS study. Frontiers in Psychology, 13 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.984777

Projects

Effects of fixed-ratio and variable-ratio reward schedules on inhibitory control: A pilot ERP study
This study aims to evaluate the immediate and after-effects of fixed-ratio and variable-ratio reward schedules on inhibitory control and associated neural processing, using ERP.
Project Start Year: 2024, Principal Investigator(s): YEUNG, Kin Chung, Michael

 
Interactions of motivation and emotion during executive control: A pilot fNIRS study
The overarching aim of this project is to understand the psychological and neural mechanisms underlying the interactions of motivation and emotion during executive control using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
Project Start Year: 2024, Principal Investigator(s): YEUNG, Kin Chung, Michael

 
Developing an EEG-fNIRS Neurofeedback Application for Brain Training for Autistic Children
Altered brain function is a hallmark feature of autism spectrum disorder and underpins cognitive, emotional, and social differences in autistic individuals. Unfortunately, in Hong Kong, the brain health of autistic children has been largely neglected; technological methods that directly alter autistic brain functioning also remain lacking. These lead to suboptimal outcomes for many autistic children. In the West, neurofeedback training using either electroencephalography (EEG) or functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has been shown to bring promising cognitive, emotional, and behavioral benefits to some neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism. Importantly, these technologies are relatively low-cost and user-friendly, making them ideal for remediating brain dysfunction. Because EEG and fNIRS capture different aspects of brain activity, integrating them can arguably augment the therapeutic effects of neurofeedback training. Here, we propose a proof-of-concept project to make innovations in developing a versatile, currently nonexistent combined EEG-fNIRS neurofeedback application to offer synergistic brain training for autistic children. Using this application, we will then evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of combined EEG-fNIRS neurofeedback training for improving functioning and symptoms in these children. This project will enable a direct, comprehensive technology-based neurorehabilitation for autistic children, which can help reduce healthcare costs and feed the medical technology industry in Hong Kong.
Project Start Year: 2024, Principal Investigator(s): YEUNG, Kin Chung, Michael

 
Developing a home-based executive function training program for autistic individuals
This project develops an executive function computerized training program for autistic individuals who would like to improve their executive function abilities
Project Start Year: 2023, Principal Investigator(s): YEUNG, Kin Chung, Michael

 
Theta neurofeedback training for executive function in children and adolescents
This pilot study examines the effects of 8-session frontal midline theta EEG neurofeedback training on executive function in children and adolescents
Project Start Year: 2023, Principal Investigator(s): YEUNG, Kin Chung, Michael

 
Using an integrated framework of cognitive control and a transdiagnostic dimensional approach to understand psychopathology: A pilot study
This project will apply the tripartite and dual-mechanism models of cognitive control to examine the relationships among various cognitive control processes. It will also determine the relationships between various cognitive control processes and psychopathological symptoms.
Project Start Year: 2023, Principal Investigator(s): YEUNG, Kin Chung, Michael

 
Temporal dynamics of resolving multiple concurrent conflicts: A pilot developmental ERP study
In everyday life, we often encounter situations in which various types of conflicts need to be resolved at the same time. Currently, much is known about conflict resolution and its neural processing under one single conflict. However, the neural mechanisms underlying conflict resolution under multiple concurrent conflicts remain poorly known, and whether there are developmental differences in the independence of different conflict processes also is still elusive. These prevent the development of effective intervention strategies for individuals with difficulty resolving conflicts. The aim of this study is to examine the temporal dynamics and developmental differences associated with conflict resolution under multiple concurrent conflicts using the event-related potential (ERP) technique. Children aged 8–12, adolescents aged 13–17, and young adults aged 18–25 will perform several combined conflict tasks, each with three conflict types, while their electroencephalography is being recorded. Different co-occurring conflict types are expected to modulate ERP components differently, suggesting that multiple, independent conflict-driven control mechanisms exist in the brain. In addition, these patterns are expected to be evident in young adults but not in children. The findings will inform strategies and facilitate identification of the best timing for intervening with conflict resolution under multiple concurrent conflicts.
Project Start Year: 2023, Principal Investigator(s): YEUNG, Kin Chung, Michael

 
Understanding the role of the frontoparietal network in the development of executive function in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder
Executive function (EF) skills (i.e., attentional shifting, cognitive/behavioral inhibition, and working memory updating) play an essential role in social competence and behavioral flexibility. In autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is characterized by social communication impairment and restricted and stereotyped behavior, an improved understanding of EF is essential for developing effective treatments for ASD individuals. While considerable evidence suggests that EF impairments are associated with ASD, the reported findings on the subject have been mixed. Several cross-sectional studies, including our pilot study, have linked older age with worse EF relative to age-expected levels in ASD. However, details about the exact neural mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are currently lacking, preventing the development of effective neurological rehabilitation as a means to improve EF development in ASD. The lateral frontoparietal network, comprising the dorsolateral prefrontal and inferior parietal cortices, has long been implicated in EF. This network undergoes continued functional development characterized by dissociable increases in local activation and long-range connectivity during EF tasks throughout childhood and adolescence. This project is aimed to build on our pilot study’s results, examining whether reduced developmental improvements in frontoparietal function in ASD individuals compared to typically developing (TD) individuals underlie these individuals’ differences in developmental changes in EF. The findings will determine whether interventions targeting the frontoparietal network represent a promising approach to remediating the underdevelopment of EF in ASD individuals. We will recruit 90 ASD and 90 demographically matched TD individuals aged 8–17 years. Each will complete nine EF tasks, three each for shifting, inhibition, and updating.Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) will be used to measure frontoparietal activation and connectivity during some EF tasks. We hypothesize that (1) older age is associated with a larger group difference (TD > ASD) in each core EF skill, (2) older age is associated with greater group differences (TD > ASD) in frontoparietal activation and connectivity during EF tasks, and (3) reduced developmental changes in frontoparietal activation and connectivity in ASD underlie the difference in developmental changes in EF between TD and ASD individuals. This ASD project is novel in that we (1) perform a systematic assessment of EF, evaluating each component through multiple tasks; (2) employ two orthogonal measures (i.e., activation level and functional connectivity) to give a full picture of frontoparietal hemodynamics; and (3) elucidate the currently unknown neural mechanisms underlying the difference in developmental changes in EF between ASD and TD individuals.
Project Start Year: 2023, Principal Investigator(s): YEUNG, Kin Chung, Michael

 
Patents

System and Method for Interacting with Human Brain Activities Using EEG-fNIRS Neurofeedback
This invention generally relates to techniques of interacting with human brain activities and measuring one’s attention level. More specifically this invention relates to systems and methods using integrated electroencephalography (EEG) and function - A/A61