Profile

Zhong-Lin Lu

William M. Keck Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience and Professor of Psychology and Biomedical Engineering
Co-Director, Dornsife

Contact Information
E-mail: zhonglin@usc.edu
Phone: (213) 740-2282
Office: SGM 703
Office Hours: MW : 12-1

LINKS
Curriculum Vitae
Faculty Profile on Departmental Website
Personal Website
 

Biographical Sketch

Zhong-Lin Lu received waiver of the college entrance exam and entered the Biology Department of the University of Science and Technology of China in 1985. He was selected to join the 8500 experimental education program shortly after his arrival at USTC, and graduated with a BS in theoretical physics from the Modern Physics Department in 1989. He then went to the US to study physics through the CUSPEA program. After obtaining a PhD in physics from New York University in 1992, he worked as an Assistant Researcher in Cognitive Sciences at UC Irvine before joining the faculty of the University of Southern California in 1996. He is currently the William M. Keck Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience, Professor of Psychology and Biomedical Engineering at USC, and co-Director of the Dana and David Dornsife Cognitive Neuroscience Imaging Center. At USC, Lu established the Laboratory of Brain ProcessES (http://lobes.usc.edu). The goal of his research program is to construct computational brain models for perception and cognition. Currently, Lu is working on: (1) Computational & psychophysical study of visual and auditory perception, attention, and perceptual learning, (2) Functional brian imaging study of sensory and attentional processes, and human decision making, and (3) Visual deficits in dyslexia, amblyopia & Alzheimer's disease. In 2002, Lu was elected Overseas Evaluation Expert of the Chinese Academy of Science. In 2003, he won the first Young Investigator's Award of the Society of Experimental Psychologists and became the youngest Fellow of the Society.

Education

  • B.S. Theoretical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, 7/1989
  • M.S. Physics, New York University, 5/1991
  • Ph.D. Physics, New York University, 3/1992

Postdoctoral Training

  • Assistant Researcher, University of California, Irvine, 09/01/1992-08/31/1996  
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, New York University, 04/01/1992-08/31/1992  

Academic Appointment, Affiliation, and Employment History

  • William M. Keck Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Southern California, 08/16/2006-  
  • co-Director, Dana and David Dornsife Cognitive Neuroscience Imaging Center, University of Southern California, 09/01/2005-  
  • Professor, Department of Psychology and Program in Neural, Informational and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California, 12/21/2004-  
  • Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, 01/01/2003-  
  • Associate Professor, Department of Psychology and Program in Neural, Informational and Behavioral Sc, University of Southern California, 06/01/2000-12/20/2004  
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Program in Neural, Informational and Behavioral Sc, University of Southern California, 09/01/1996-08/31/2000  
  • Scientific Director, Dana and David Dornsife Cognitive Neuroscience Imaging Center, University of Southern California, 09/01/2004-08/31/2005  
  • Overseas’ Evaluation Expert, Chinese Academy of Science, 2002-  
  • Adjunct Professor of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 2000-  
  • Adjunct Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University , 2004-  
  • Assistant Researcher, Human Information Processing Laboratory, Department of Cognitive Sciences and, University of California, Irvine, 09/01/1992-08/31/1996  
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Neuromagnetism Laboratory, Physics and Psychology Departments, and Center for N, New York University, 03/01/1992-08/31/1992  

Description of Research

Summary Statement of Research Interests
Professor Lu conducts computational and psychophysical studies on visual motion and texture perception, visual attention, visual memory systems, and visual perceptual learning. He also conducts neurophysiological and brain imaging studies of sensory and attentional processes. Recently, he has performed a number of studies on visual deficits in dyslexia, amblyopia & Alzheimer's disease.

Affiliations with Research Centers, Labs, and Other Institutions

  • Laboratory of Brain ProcessES, Director,http://lobes.usc.edu
  • Brain and Creativity Institute, Member,http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/bci/
  • Dana and David Dornsife Cognitive Neuroscience Imaging Center, co-Director,http://brainimaging.usc.edu
  • State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing, China, Adjunct Professor

Publications

Book
  • Lu, Zhong-Lin, of Science and Technology of China Press (Ed.). (2009). Vision Science. Hefei, Anhui: University of Science and Technology of China Press.
  • Lu and Eskew (Ed.). (2007). Special Issue on Signal Detection Theory. (Vol. 20, Leidan: Sptial Vision.
  • Lu, Z., Kaufman, L. (2003). Magnetic Source Imaging of the Human Brain. Manwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc..
Book Chapter
  • Lu, Z., Lesmes, L. A., Sperling, G. (2009). Mechanisms of isoluminant chromatic motion perception. pp. 422-438. Hefei, Anhui: University of Science and Technology of China Press.
  • Kaufman, L., Lu, Z. (2006). Magnetic source imaging of the human brain. pp. p. 109-128. Magnetic source imaging of the human brain/Peking University Press.
  • Lu, Z., Dosher, B. A. (2006). Brain mechanisms of attention. pp. p. 281-288. Brain mechanisms of attention/Peking University Press.
  • Lu, Z. (2006). Magnetic source imaging of the human brain. (Vol. Chapter 7). pp. page 109-128.. Peking University Press.
Encyclopedia Article
  • Lu, Z., Dosher, B. A. (2007). Cognitive Psychology. 17852-17860. Scholarpedia.
Journal Article
  • Jeter, P., Dosher, B. A., Petrov, A., Lu, Z. (2009). Task precision at transfer determines specificity of perceptual learning. Journal of Vision. Vol. 9 (3), pp. 1-13.
  • Huang, C. -., Zhou, J., Lu, Z., Feng, L., Zhou, Y. (2009). Binocular Combination in Anisometropic Amblyopia. Journal of Vision. Vol. 9 (3:17), pp. 1-16.
  • Xue, G., Lu, Z., Weller, J. A., Li, X. R., Bechara, A. (2009). Functional Dissociations of Risk and Reward Processing in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex. Cerebral Cortex. Vol. 19, pp. 1019-1027.
  • Lu, Z., Dosher, B. (2009). Mechanisms of Perceptual Learning. Learning and Perception. Vol. 1, pp. 19-36.
  • Dosher, B., Lu, Z. (2009). Hebbian Reweighting on Stable Representations in Perceptual Learning. Learning and Perception. Vol. 1, pp. 37-58.
  • Lu, Z., Tse, H. C., Dosher, B., Lesmes, L. A., Posner, C., Chu, W. (2009). Intra- and cross-modal cuing of spatial attention: Time courses and mechanisms. Vision Research. Vol. 49, pp. 1081-1096.
  • Liu, S. H., Dosher, B., Lu, Z. (2009). The role of judgment frames and precision in object attention. Vision Research. Vol. 49, pp. 1336-1351.
  • James, G. A., Lu, Z., Meter, V., J., S., K, H., P, X. (2009). Changes in resting-state effective connectivity in the motor network following rehabilitation of upper-extremity post-stroke paresis. Topics in Stroke Research. Vol. 16 (4), pp. 270-281.
  • D’Acremont, M., Lu, Z., Li, X., Bechara, A. (2009). Risk prediction in the human brain: A functional neuroimaging study. NeuroImage. Vol. 47, pp. 1929-1939.
  • Lu, Z., Dosher, B. A. (2008). Characterizing observer states using external noise and observer models: Assessing internal representations with external noise. Psychological Review. Vol. 115, pp. 44-82.
  • Bruno, J., Zumberg, A., Manis, F., Lu, Z., Goldman, J. G. (2008). Occipito-temporal sensitivity to orthographic familiarity. NeuroImage. Vol. 39 (4), pp. 1998-2001.
  • D’Argembeau, A., Xue, G., Lu, Z., Linden, V. d., M. Bechara, A. (2008). Distinct neural systems for envisioning emotional events in the near and far future. NeuroImage. Vol. 40 (1), pp. 398-407.
  • Huang, C. B., Lu, Z., Zhou, Y. F. (2008). Broad bandwidth of perceptual learning in the visual system of adults with anisometropic amblyopia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA. Vol. 105 (10), pp. 4068-4073.
  • Li, X., Lu, Z., Tjan, B., Dosher, B. A., Chu, W. (2008). Blood oxygenation level-dependent contrast response functions identify mechanisms of covert attention in early visual areas. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. Vol. 105 (16), pp. 6202-6207.
  • Lu, Z., Huang, C. B., Zhou, Y. (2008). Perceptual mechanisms and perceptual learning in anisometropic amblyopia. Ophthalmology in China. Vol. 17 (3), pp. 289-297.
  • Bernstein, L. E., Lu, Z., Jiang, J. (2008). Quantified audiovisual speech signal incongruity identifies cortical sites of audiovisual speech processing. Brain Research. Vol. 1242 (1), pp. 172-184.
  • Lu, Z. (2008). Mechanisms of Attention: Psychophysics, Cognitive Psychology, and Cognitive Neuroscience. Japanese Journal of Psychonomic Science. Vol. 27 (1), pp. 38-45.
  • Huang, C., Tao, L., Zhou, Y., Lu, Z. (2007). Treated amblyopes remain deficient in spatial vision: A contrast sensitivity and external noise study. Vision Research/Elsevier Science. Vol. 47, pp. 22-34.
  • Dosher, B. A., Lu, Z. (2007). The Functional Form of Performance Improvements in Perceptual Learning: Learning Rates and Transfer. Psychological Science/American Psychoologicl Society. Vol. 18, pp. 531-539.
  • Ronquillo, J., Denson, T. F., Lickel, B., Lu, Z., Nandy, A., Isen, J., Schug, R., Maddox, K. B. (2007). The Effects of Skin Tone on Race-related Amygdala Activity: An fMRI Investigation. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. Vol. 2, pp. 39-44.
  • Lu, Z., Eskew, R. (2007). Editorial, Spatial Vision Special Issue on Signal Detection Theory. Spatial Vision/Brill. Vol. 20 (1-2), pp. 1-4.
  • Appelbarm, G., Lu, Z., Sperling, G. (2007). Contrast amplification in global texture orientation discrimination. Journal of Vision. Vol. 7 (10), pp. 1-19.
  • Qiu, Z., Xu, P., Zhou, Y., Lu, Z. (2007). Spatial vision deficit underlies poor sine-wave motion direction discrimination in anisometropic amblyopia. Journal of Vision. Vol. 7 (11), pp. 1-15.
  • Tseng, C., Gobell, J. L., Lu, Z., Sperling, G. (2006). When motion appears stopped: phenomenon and theory of stereo motion standstill. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. pp. p. 14953-14958.
  • Dosher, B. A., Lu, Z. (2006). Level and mechanisms of perceptual learning: Learning in luminance and texture objects. Vision Research/Elsevier Science. pp. p. 1996-2007.
  • Lu, Z., Chu, W., Dosher, B. A., Lee, S. (2006). Perceptual learning of motion direction discrimination in fovea: Separable mechanisms. Vision Research/Elsevier Science. pp. p. 2315-2327.
  • Lesmes, L. A., Jeon, S., Lu, Z., Dosher, B. A. (2006). Bayesian adaptive estimation of threshold vs. contrast external noise functions. Vision Research/Elsevier Science. pp. p. 3160-3176.
  • Petrov, A., Dosher, B. A., Lu, Z. (2006). Comparable perceptual learning with and without feedback in non-stationary contexts: Data and model. Vision Research/Elsevier Science. pp. p. 3177-3197.
  • Zhou, Y., Huang, C., Xu, P., Tao, L., Qiu, Z., Li, X., Lu, Z. (2006). Perceptual learning improves contrast sensitivity and visual acuity in adults with amplyopia. Vision Research/Elsevier Science. pp. p. 739-750.
  • Sperling, A. J., Lu, Z., Manis, F. R., Seidenberg, M. S. (2006). Motion perception deficits and reading impairment: it’s the noise, not the motion. Psychological Science/American Psychoologicl Society. pp. p. NA.
  • Dao, D. Y., Lu, Z., Dosher, B. A. (2006). Adaptation to sine-wave gratings selectively reduces the sensory gain of the adapted stimuli. Journal of Vision. pp. p. 739-759.
  • Sperling, A. J., Lu, Z., Manis, F. R., Seidenberg, M. S. (2006). Deficits in achromatic phantom contour perception in poor readers. Neuropsychologia, 44. Vol. 1900-1908
  • Xu, P., Lu, Z., Qiu, Z., Zhou, Y. (2006). Identify mechanisms of amblyopia in Gabor orientation identification with external noise. Vision Research/Elsevier Science. pp. p. 3748-3760.
  • Lu, Z., Neuse, J. L., Madigan, S. A., Dosher, B. A. (2005). Decay of iconic memory in observers with mild cognitive impairment. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. pp. p. 1797-1802.
  • Dosher, B. A., Lu, Z. (2005). Perceptual learning in clear not noisy displays optimizes performance: Asymmetry of transfer. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. pp. p. 5286-5290.
  • Lu, Z., Chu, W., Dosher, B. A., Lee, S. (2005). Independent Perceptual Learning in Monocular and Binocular Motion Systems. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. pp. p. 5624-5629.
  • Sperling, A. J., Lu, Z., Manis, F. R., Seidenberg, M. S. (2005). Deficits in perceptual noise exclusion in developmental dyslexia. Nature Neuroscience/Nature Publishing Group. pp. p. 862-863.
  • Petrov, A., Dosher, B. A., Lu, Z. (2005). Perceptual learning through incremental channel reweighting. Psychological Review/American Psychological Association. pp. p. 715-743.
  • Lu, Z., Chu, W., Dosher, B. A., Lee, S. (2005). Perceptual Learning of Gabor Orientation Identification in Visual Periphery: Complete Inter-ocular Transfer of Learning Mechanisms. Vision Research/Elsevier Science. pp. p. 2500-2510.
  • Lu, Z., Sperling, G. (2001). Three-systems theory of human visual motion perception: review and update. Journal of the Optical Society of America, A. Vol. 18, pp. 2331-2370.
  • Lu, Z., Dosher, B. A. (1998). External noise distinguishes mechanisms of attention. Vision Research. Vol. 38, pp. 1183-1198.
  • Dosher, B. A., Lu, Z. (1998). Perceptual learning reflects external noise filtering and internal noise reduction through channel reweighting. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA. Vol. 95, pp. 13988-13993..

Multimedia Scholarship and Creative Works

  • The break of the curveball, http://illusioncontest.neuralcorrelate.com/2009/the-break-of-the-curveball/, 2008-2009   

Honors and Awards

  • Fellow (or Equivalent) of National Society in Discipline, Fellow elected, Association for Psychological Science, 2007-  
  • Endowed Chair, William M. Keck Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience, 8/16/2006-  
  • Distinguished Visitor, The University of Hong Kong, 2008-2009   
  • First Prize, 5th Annual Best Visual Illusion Contest, The Neural Correlate Society, 2008-2009   
  • Society of Experimental Psychologists, Early Achievement Award, 2003  

Service to the University

Administrative Appointments
  • Co-Director, Dornsife, 08/16/2006-  
Committees
  • Member, Deans and Provost Neuroscience Advisory Group, USC, 2008-  
  • Chair, Dean’s Neuroscience Advisory Committee, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, USC, 2008-2011  
  • Chair, Joint Search Committee on Decision-Making, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, 2008-2009   

Service to the Profession

Conferences Organized
  • Organizer, Chair, Workshop on Cognitive Science: From Cellular Circuitry to Computational Modeling, Beijing, 2008-2009   
  • Organizer, The first international workshop on perceptual learning, Beijing, China, 10/14/2008-10/19/2008  
  • co-Organizer, Frontiers in Human Information Processing, Irvine, CA, Festschrift Conference in Honor of George Sperling, 2007-2008   
  • Organizer, Symposium on Functional Brain Imaging, Costa Mesa, California., Society for Mathematical Psychology., 2007-2008   
Editorships and Editorial Boards
  • Associate Editor, Seeing and Perceiving, 09/01/2009-  
  • Guest Editor, Special Issue on Perceptual Learning, Vision Research, 10/2008-12/2009  
  • Associate Editor, Spatial Vision, 05/2004-08/31/2009  
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