Principal Investigator

Yanchao Bi
Semantic Memory, Knowledge Representation, Language Processing, Cognitive Neuroscience

phone:
address:
email: ybi@pku.edu.cn

 

 

Research Interests

My current work focuses on the study of functional and neural architecture associated with semantic memory, knowledge representation, and language processing, using cognitive psychology, cognitive neuroscience, multi-modal neuroimaging, computation modeling and other research methods.

 

Selected Publications:

  1. Liu, B., Wang, X., Wang, X., Li, Y., Han, Y., Lu, J., Zhang, H., Wang, X., & Bi, Y. (2025). Object knowledge representation in the human visual cortex requires a connection with the language system. PLoS biology, 23(5), e3003161. 
  2. Zhu, Z., Yang, H., Wen, H., Hung, J., Hu, Y., Bi, Y., & Yu, X. (2025). Innate network mechanisms of temporal pole for semantic cognition in neonatal and adult twin studies. Nature Communications, 16(1), 3835. 
  3. Fu, Z., Chen, H., Liu, Z., Sun, M., Liu, Z., & Bi, Y. (2025). Pathogen stress heightens sensorimotor dimensions in the human collective semantic space. Communications Psychology, 3(1), 2. 
  4. Amaral, L.#, Wang, X.#, Bi, Y.*, & Striem-Amit, E.* (2025). Unraveling the impact of congenital deafness on individual brain organization. elife, 13, RP96944.
  5. Zhao, M., Xin, Y., Deng, H., Zuo, Z., Wang, X.*, Bi, Y.*, Liu, N.* (2024). Object color knowledge representation occurs in the macaque brain despite the absence of a developed language system. PLOS Biology, 22(10): e3002863. 
  6. Wen, H., Wang, D., & Bi, Y. (2024). Processing language partly shares neural genetic basis with processing tools and body parts. Eneuro, 11(8).  
  7. Tian, S., Chen, L., Wang, X., Li, G., Fu, Z., Ji, Y., Lu, J., Wang, X., Shan, S., & Bi, Y. (2024). Vision matters for shape representation: Evidence from sculpturing and drawing in the blind. Cortex, 174, 241-255. 
  8. Reilly, J., Shain, C., Borghesani, V., Kuhnke, P., Vigliocco, G., Peelle, J. E., ..., Bi, Y., Hoffman, P., Garcea, F. E., & Vinson, D. (2024). What we mean when we say semantic: Toward a multidisciplinary semantic glossary. Psychonomic bulletin & review, 1-38. 
  9. Tian, S., Chen, Y., Fu, Z., Wang, X., & Bi, Y. (2023). Simple shape feature computation across modalities: convergence and divergence between the ventral and dorsal visual streams. Cerebral Cortex, 33(15), 9280-9290. 
  10. Wang, X., Wang, B., & Bi, Y. (2023). Early language exposure affects neural mechanisms of semantic representations. eLife, 12, e81681. (eLife digest: https://elifesciences.org/digests/81681/learning-through-language) 
  11. Xiong, Z., Tian, Y., Wang, X., Wei, K., & Bi, Y. (2023). Gravity matters for the neural representations of action semantics. Cerebral Cortex, 33(11), 6862-6871. 
  12. Wen, H., Song, Y., Liang, M., Zhang, P., Wang, X., & Bi, Y. (2023). Pulvinar Response Profiles and Connectivity Patterns to Object Domains. Journal of Neuroscience, 43(5): 812-826. 
  13. Fu, Z., Wang, X., Wang, X., Yang, H., Wang, J., Wei, T., Liao, X., Liu, Z., Chen, H., & Bi,Y. (2023). Different computational relations in language are captured by distinct brain systems. Cerebral Cortex, 33(4), 997-1013. 
  14. Wen, H., Xu, T., Wang, X., Yu, X., & Bi, Y. (2022). Brain intrinsic connection patterns underlying tool processing in human adults are present in neonates and not in macaques. NeuroImage, 258, 119339. 
  15. Yang, H., & Bi, Y. (2022). From words to phrases: neural basis of social event semantic composition. Brain Struct Funct, 227(5), 1683-1695. 
  16. Wang, X., & Bi, Y. (2021). Idiosyncratic Tower of Babel: Individual Differences in Word-Meaning Representation Increase as Word Abstractness Increases. Psychological science, 32(10), 1617-1635. 
  17. Bi, Y. (2021). Dual coding of knowledge in the human brain. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 25(10), 883-895. 
  18. Fan, S., Wang, X., Wang, X., Wei, T., & Bi, Y. (2021). Visual featural topography in the human ventral visual pathway. Neurosci. Bull, 37(10), 1454-1468. 
  19. BI, Y. Concepts and Object Domains. In: Poeppel, D., Mangun, G. R., & Gazzaniga, M. S. (Eds.) The cognitive neurosciences. MIT Press; 2020. 
  20. Hung, J., Wang, X., Wang, X., & Bi, Y. (2020). Functional subdivisions in the anterior temporal lobes: a large scale meta-analytic investigation. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 115, 134-145. 
  21. Wang, X., Men, W., Gao, J., Caramazza, A., & Bi, Y. (2020). Two Forms of Knowledge Representations in the Human Brain. Neuron, 107(2), 383-393. 
  22. Fang, Y., Wang, X., Zhong, S., Song, L., Han, Z., Gong, G., & Bi, Y. (2018). Semantic representation in the white matter pathway. PLoS biology, 16(4), e2003993. (Primer by Pestilli, F., 2018 pLos Biology) 
  23. Xu, Y., Wang, X., Wang, X., Men, W., Gao, J. H., & Bi, Y. (2018). Doctor, Teacher, and Stethoscope: Neural Representation of Different Types of Semantic Relations. Journal of Neuroscience, 38(13), 3303-3317. (Journal Club Commentary by Mills-Finnerty, C., 2018 J Neurosci) 
  24. Wang, X., He, C., Peelen, M. V., Zhong, S., Gong, G., Caramazza, A., & Bi, Y. (2017). Domain selectivity in the parahippocampal gyrus is predicted by the same structural connectivity patterns in blind and sighted individuals. Journal of Neuroscience, 37(18), 4705-4716. 
  25. Xu, Y., He, Y., & Bi, Y. (2017). A Tri-network Model of Human Semantic Processing. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1538. 
  26. Bi, Y., Wang, X., Caramazza, A. (2016). Object domain and modality in the ventral visual pathway. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 20(4), 282-290. 
  27. Striem-Amit, E., Almeida, J., Belledonne, M., Chen, Q., Fang, Y., Han, Z., Caramazza, A., & Bi, Y. (2016). Topographical functional connectivity patterns exist in the congenitally, prelingually deaf. Scientific Reports, 6(1), 29375. (Reported by Eurekalert! & AAAS science update podcast) 
  28. Wang, X., Caramazza, A., Han, Z., Bi, Y. (2015). Reading without speech sounds: VWFA and its connectivity in the congenitally deaf. Cerebral Cortex, 25(9), 2416-2426. 
  29. Bi, Y., Han, Z., Zhong, S., Ma, Y., Gong, G., Huang, R., Song, L., Fang, Y., He, Y., Caramazza, A. (2015). The White Matter Structural Network Underlying Human Tool Use and Tool Understanding. The Journal of Neuroscience, 35(17), 6822-6835. (Journal Club Commentary by Vonk, J. M. J., 2015 J Neurosci) 
  30. Wang, X., Peelen, M., Han, Z., He, C., Caramazza, A., Bi, Y. (2015). How Visual Is the Visual Cortex? Comparing Connectional and Functional Fingerprints between Congenitally Blind and Sighted Individuals. The Journal of Neuroscience, 35(36), 12545-12559. 
  31. Peelen, M., He, C., Han, Z, Caramazza, A., Bi, Y. (2014). Nonvisual and visual object shape representations in occipitotemporal cortex: evidence from congenitally blind and sighted adults. The Journal of Neuroscience, 34(1), 163-170.
  32. Han, Z., Ma, Y., Gong, G., He, Y., Caramazza, A., Bi, Y. (2013). White matter structural connectivity underlying semantic processing: Evidence from brain damaged patients. Brain, 136(10), 2952-2965. 
  33. Han, Z., Bi, Y., Chen, J., Chen, Q., He, Y., Caramazza, A. (2013). Distinct regions of right temporal cortex are associated with biological and human-agent motion: fmri and neuropsychological evidence. The Journal of Neuroscience, 33(39), 15442-15453. 
  34. He, C., Peelen, M., Han, Z., Lin, N., Caramazza, A., Bi, Y. (2013). Selectivity for large nonmanipulable objects in scene-selective visual cortex does not require visual experience. NeuroImage, 79, 1-9. 
  35. Wei, T., Liang, X., He, Y., Zang, Y., Han, Z., Caramazza, A., Bi, Y. (2012). Predicting Conceptual Processing Capacity from Spontaneous Neuronal Activity of the Left Middle Temporal Gyrus. The Journal of Neuroscience, 32(2), 481-489. 
  36. Han, Z., Zhang, Y., Shu, H., Bi, Y. (2007). The Orthographic Buffer in Writing Chinese Characters: Evidence from a Dysgraphic Patient. Cognitive Neuropsychology, 24(4), 431–450. 

 

Lab Website：

https://www.psy.pku.edu.cn/bilab/