Prof. Robin Zhengxi SHAO

EDUCATION

• Ph.D. in Psychiatry, University of Oxford, 2012
• MA in Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, 2010
• BA in Experimental Psychology (1st class), University of Oxford, 2007

RESEARCH INTERESTS
My research interests include
1) affective and cognitive neuroscience on healthy individuals,
2) clinical neuroscience on individuals with mood disorders and “high-risk” populations,
3) the neural, biological and behavioural mechanisms of stress and resilience,
4) brain plasticity induced via neuromodulation.cs

RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Liu Z, Lu W, Zou W, Gao Y, Li X, Xu G, So KF, McIntyre RS, Lin K*, Shao R*. A preliminary study on brain developmental features of bipolar disorder familial risk and subthreshold symptoms. Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging 2024: Epub ahead of print. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.06.005.

Zhao X, Wu S, Li X, Liu Z, Lu W, Lin K*, Shao R*. Common neural deficits across reward functions in major depression: a meta-analysis of fMRI studies. Psychological Medicine 2024; Epub ahead of print. DOI: 10.1017/S0033291724001235.

Shao R^#, Man ISC, Lee TMC*. The effect of Slow-Paced Breathing on Cardiovascular and Emotion Functions: A meta-analysis and Systematic Review. Mindfulness 2024; 15: 1-18.

Lu W^#, Wu J^#, Shao R*, Zou W, Zhang R, Li X, Kong J, Zheng D, Tian X, Gao Y, Yau S, Goldstein B, Xu G, So K-F, J Wang*, Kangguang Lin*. Genetic and symptomatic risks associated with longitudinal brain morphometry in bipolar disorder. Nature Mental Health 2024; 2: 209-217.

Luo Q^#, Shao R*. The positive and negative emotion functions related to loneliness: A systematic review of behavioural and neuroimaging studies. Psychoradiology 2023; kkad029.

Shao R^#, Man ISC^#, Yau SY, Li C, Hou WK, Li SX, Liu FY, Lee M, Wing YK, Lee TMC*. The interplay of acute cortisol response and trait affectivity in associating with stress resilience. Nature Mental Health 2023; 1: 114-123.

Man ISC^#, Shao R^#, Hou WK, Li SX, Liu FY, Lee M, Wing YK, Yau SY*, Lee TMC*. Multi-systemic evaluation of biological and emotional responses to the Trier Social Stress Test: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology 2023; 68:101050.

Shao R^#, Gao M, Lin C, Huang C-M, Liu H-L, Toh C-H, Wu C, Tsai Y-F, Qi D, Lee S-H^*, Lee TMC^*.  Multimodal neural evidence on the corticostriatal underpinning of suicidality in late-life depression. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging 2022; 7(9): 905-915.

Shao R^#*, Lee TMC*. The executive and action control realms of suicidality. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 2021; 126: 542-43.

Qi D^#, Wong NML^#, Shao R^#, Man IS, Wong CH, Yuen LP*, Chan CC*, Lee TMC*. Qigong exercise enhances cognitive functions in the elderly via an interleukin-6-hippocampus pathway: a randomized active-controlled trial. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 2021; 95: 381-90.

Shao R^#, Liu H-L, Huang C-M, Chen Y-L, Gao M, Lee S-H, Lin C*, Lee TMC*. Loneliness and depression dissociated on parietal-centered networks in cognitive and resting states. Psychological Medicine 2020; 50(16): 2691-2701.

Lin K^#*, Shao R*, Wang R, Lu W, Zou W, Chen K, Gao Y, Brietzke E, McIntyre R, Mansur R, Zhang L, Yau S-Y, Su H, Xu G, So K-F*. Inflammation, brain structure and cognitive interrelations among individuals with differential risks for bipolar disorder. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 2020; 83: 192-99.

RESEARCH LABORATORY
The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Laboratory of Neuropsychology and Human Neuroscience

RECRUITMENT OF RESEARCH ASSISTANTS\
We have ongoing projects which can provide internship opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students with a major in Psychology, Neuroscience, or Cognitive Sciences. Please get in touch with me for details.