Wei Angel Huang, MPA

cognitive neuroscience and machine learning

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Publications

Complexity and topology of neural dynamics

My postdoctoral work involves developing large-scale biophysical network models and new computational topology/geometry techniques to probe complex neural dynamics.

Mengsen Zhang and Manish Saggar (2020). Complexity of resting brain dynamics shaped by multiscale structural constraints. bioRxiv

Emmanuelle Tognoli, Mengsen Zhang, Armin Fuchs, Christopher Beetle, and J. A. Scott Kelso (2020). Coordination Dynamics: A Foundation for Understanding Social Behavior. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 14:317. pdf | DOI

Multiagent Coordination Dynamics

How can multiple components form complex structure/dynamics on multiple levels/scales in natural complex adaptive systems (e.g. living, social systems)? In my doctoral work, I approached this problem by integrating empirical, theoretical, and methodological research, which I call the Human Firefly Trilogy. The Triology is a series of three papers:

Mengsen Zhang, J. A. Scott Kelso, and Emmanuelle Tognoli (2018). Critical diversity: Divided or united states of social coordination. PLOS ONE 13(4): e0193843. pdf + SI | DOI

The “Human Firefly” experiment.
Mengsen Zhang, Christopher Beetle, J. A. Scott Kelso, and Emmanuelle Tognoli (2019). Connecting empirical phenomena and theoretical models of biological coordination across scales. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 16: 20190360. pdf + SI | DOI | arXiv

The theoretical model derived from experimental observations in the Human Firefly experiment reported in Zhang, Kelso, Tognoli (2018).
Mengsen Zhang, William D. Kalies, J. A. Scott Kelso, Emmanuelle Tognoli (2020). Topological portraits of multiscale coordination dynamics”. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 339, 108672. pdf + SI | DOI | arXiv | Code | Talk

Methodological paper on a topological approach to complex coordination pattern with multiple characteristic spatiotemporal scales. The method was based on exploratory analyses of single-trial dynamics recorded in the Human Firefly experiment.

Together, they make up my dissertation:

Mengsen Zhang (2018). The Coordination Dynamics of Multiple Agents. Doctoral Dissertation, Florida Atlantic University. pdf | ProQuest | Talk

Human Dynamic Clamp (HDC) and Human-Virtural Parter Interaction (VPI)

This group of studies investigate the neural and physiological changes in humans during social coordination with a “Virtual Partner” whose social coordinative behavior can be parameterically manipulated through modifying its governing equation. This was based on a new paradigm named the Human Dynamic Clamp (here’s a paper).

Guillaume Dumas, Aline Lefebvre, Mengsen Zhang, Emmanuelle Tognoli, and J.A. Scott Kelso (2018). The Human Dynamic Clamp: a probe for Coordination across Neural, Behavioral, and Social Scales. In: Müller S., Plath P., Radons G., Fuchs A. (eds). Complexity and Synergetics (Springer, Cham). DOI | pdf

A summary of the methodology.
Mengsen Zhang, Guillaume Dumas, J. A. Scott Kelso, and Emmanuelle Tognoli. (2016). Enhanced emotional responses during social coordination with a virtual partner. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 104, 33-43. DOI | pdf

We found elevated emotional responses for stable coordination and perceived humanness in the Virtual Partner.

Other Publications

Emmanuelle Tognoli, Mengsen Zhang, and J. A. Scott Kelso (2018). On the Nature of Coordination in Nature. Advances in Cognitive Neurodynamics VI (Ed. JM Delgado-Garcia). DOI | pdf
Mengsen Zhang, Craig Nordham, and J. A. Scott Kelso (2015). Deterministic versus probabilistic causality in the brain: to cut or not to cut. Physics of Life Review, 15: 136-138. DOI | pdf