CV
Dengzhe Hou
Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University
Summary
Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University (Yamada Laboratory; International Liaison Office), with a concurrent appointment at the Unprecedented-scale Data Analytics Center (UDAC), Social Integration Research Division (from April 2026). JSPS DC2 Research Fellow (2025–2026). Research bridges cognitive neuroscience and AI, covering the reliability of EEG decoding, cognitive probes for large language models, and the neural mechanisms of self-initiated attention. Ph.D. in Information Sciences, Tohoku University (2026).
Education
- Ph.D. Candidate, Information Sciences (Cognitive Neuroscience / Vision Science / Psychology)2026-03-31Tohoku UniversityCourses: Thesis: Exploring Brain Mechanisms of Self-Initiated Attention Shift: Simultaneous Recording of EEG and Eye Movements, Advisors: Prof. Satoshi Shioiri, Prof. Shuichi Sakamoto, Prof. Chia-huei Tseng, Visual Cognition and Systems Laboratory
- Visiting PhD Scholar, Department of Neurology, MGH2025-01-31Harvard Medical School / Massachusetts General HospitalCourses: Training in sEEG, hyperscanning, and neural mechanisms of speech and interactive communication, Advisors: Instructor Jing (Jill) Cai, Prof. Sydney S. Cash
- M.S., Information Sciences2023-03-31Tohoku UniversityCourses: Visual Cognition and Systems Laboratory, Advisors: Prof. Satoshi Shioiri, Prof. Chia-huei Tseng
- B.Eng., Electronic and Information Engineering (Automation)2020-07-31Tongji UniversityGPA: 4.15/5.0 (Top 30%)
Work Experience
- Assistant Professor2026-04-01 - presentGraduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku UniversityAssistant Professor at GSIS, affiliated with the Yamada Laboratory and the International Liaison Office (ILO). Research bridges cognitive neuroscience and artificial intelligence.
- Reliability of EEG decoding and cognitive probes for large language models. Current directions include aligning brain signals (EEG, fMRI) with large-scale AI models
- Instructor for Machine Learning Basics (Graduate Program in Data Science, GPDS)
- Assistant Professor (Concurrent Appointment)2026-04-01 - presentUnprecedented-scale Data Analytics Center (UDAC), Tohoku UniversityConcurrent appointment in the Social Integration Research Division, ordered April 1, 2026 (令和8年4月1日).
- Social Integration Research Division
- Member of the TechGov initiative (from May 2026)
- Teaching Assistant2022-04-01 - 2025-03-31Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku UniversityTeaching Assistant for data science and machine learning courses. Supervisors: Prof. Kazunori Yamada, Assoc. Prof. Samy Baladram.
- Machine Learning Basics (2024 spring)
- Data Science Programming Basics (2024 spring)
- Data Engineering (2024 spring)
- Data Science Training I (2024 spring, 2022 spring)
- Data Science Training II (2024 spring)
- Data Science Basics (2023 fall)
- Data Science Skill Up Exercise (2022 spring)
Skills
Neuroimaging & Psychophysics
- EEG/ERP
- Eye-tracking
- sEEG
- Gaze-contingent paradigms
- Visual psychophysics
Computational Methods
- Time-frequency analysis
- Neural decoding (MVPA)
- Accumulation-to-bound modeling
- Machine learning
- Signal processing
Programming
- Python
- MATLAB
- R
- EEGLAB
- MNE-Python
Publications
- Task-constrained self-initiated attention shifts are indexed by frontal-midline theta ramping2025Frontiers in Human NeuroscienceHou D., Sun S., Hatori Y., Tseng C., & Shioiri S. (2025). EEG study revealing frontal-midline theta ramping as a neural index of voluntary attentional preparation.
- EEG Activity Over Ipsilateral and Contralateral M1 During Simple and Complex Hand Tasks: Variations with Motor Learning2025Frontiers in NeuroscienceZhao J., Wang Y., Hou D., Négyesi J., Qiu D.L., & Nagatomi R. (2025). Frontiers in Neuroscience, 19, 1681250.
- Commonality of neuronal coherence for motor skill acquisition and interlimb transfer2025Scientific ReportsZhao J., Wang Y., Hou D., Sun S., Négyesi J., Inada H., Shioiri S., & Nagatomi R. (2025). Scientific Reports, 15(1), 26276.
Presentations
- A unified neural model in representing and modulating decision parameters underlying emotional ambiguity2025Japanese Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting 2025Niigata, JapanOral talk
- EEG-Based Decoding of Voluntary Attentional Control: Differentiating Self-Initiated Shifts in a Visual Search Paradigm2025EPC & APCV Joint Meeting 2025, UNSW ConferencesSydney, AustraliaPoster
- Attention guides reward-based decision-making as measured by SSVEPs2024Society for Neuroscience (SfN) Annual Meeting 2024Chicago, IL, USAPoster
- Exploring Mechanisms of Self-initiated Attention Shifts: Analysis of Theta Wave2024The 16th Asia Pacific Conference on Vision (APCV 2024)JapanPoster
- Self-initiation of attentional shift during visual search2023European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP 2023)Paphos, CyprusOral talk, ECVP Student Travel Award recipient
- Neural activities preceding self-initiated attention (alpha wave analysis)2023European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP 2023)Paphos, CyprusPoster (Shioiri S., Wu W., Kobayashi K., Hou D., et al.)
- Critical brain states related with self-initiated attentional shift2022Journal of Vision (VSS / ECVP-affiliated abstract)JapanTalk (Wu W., Kobayashi K., Hou D., et al.)
Teaching
- Teaching Assistant, Data Science and Machine Learning Courses2022Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku UniversityRole: Teaching AssistantSupervised lab sessions, assisted students with programming assignments, and supported course delivery across 7 data science and machine learning courses (2022–2024). Supervisors: Prof. Kazunori Yamada, Assoc. Prof. Samy Baladram.
Service
- Editorial Board Member2026 - presentEditorial board member of the peer-reviewed journal Interdisciplinary Information Sciences (ISSN 1347-6157 / 1340-9050), published semiannually by GSIS, Tohoku University.
- Journal & Conference ReviewerPeer ReviewJournal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation; Scientific Reports; Discover Neuroscience; ECML PKDD 2026; International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN).
Languages
- Chinese (Mandarin)Native or bilingual proficiency
- EnglishProfessional working proficiency (TOEIC 910/990, TOEFL 90/120)
- JapaneseLimited working proficiency (JLPT N2)
Interests
- Visual AttentionSelf-initiated attentional control, Eye movements, Visual search
- Cognitive NeuroscienceEEG oscillations, Neural decoding, Decision-making, sEEG