Zinong Yang
I am a computational neuroscience researcher at Lewis Lab where I investigates brain dynamics across different attentional states. I obtained my PhD studying computational neuroscience at Boston University and MIT, where I was advised by Dr. Laura D. Lewis. By leveraging multimodal imaging techniques, including simultaneous fast fMRI and EEG, I aim to integrate neural and physiological measurements to develop biologically interpretable computational models that capture both local and global changes in brain dynamics.

Prior to joining MIT, I graduated from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Cognitive Science with a specialization in Neuroscience. During my undergrad years I was fortunate to work with Dr. Timothy Brady, and Dr. Jaime A. Pineda, and Dr. Virginia de Sa,.
Publications

2025
CSF attention
Attentional failures after sleep deprivation are locked to joint neurovascular, pupil, and cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics.
Zinong Yang, Stephanie D. Williams, Ewa Beldzik, Stephanie Anakwe, Emilia Schimmelpfennig, and Laura D. Lewis.
Nature Neuroscience, 2025
Paper | MIT News | The Guardian | BBC | New Scientist
CL josh
Closed-loop auditory stimulation of sleep slow waves drives cerebrospinal fluid flow in humans.
Joshua Levitt, Xiangjian Zeng, Zinong Yang, Leandro Jacob, and Laura D. Lewis.
under revision
2024
Theta Alpha
Distinct Spectral Pattern of Cognitive, Drowsiness, and Fatigue-related Theta/alpha EEG Activity During Wakefulness.
Ewa Beldzik, Zinong Yang, Stephanie D. Williams, and Laura D. Lewis.
Sleep, 2024
Abstract
2023
EEG Llama
EEG-LLAMAS: A low-latency neurofeedback platform for artifact reduction in EEG-fMRI.
Joshua Levitt, Zinong Yang, Stephanie D. Williams, Stefan E. L. Espinosa, Allan Garcia-Casal, and Laura D. Lewis.
NeuroImage, 2023
Paper | Project page |
2021
review
Imaging the temporal dynamics of brain states with highly sampled fMRI.
Zinong Yang, and Laura D. Lewis.
Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 2021
Paper |
Selected Conference Abstracts

Community Services

Awards and Honors


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Last updated: Summer 2025