Dr Bo Yao PhD, BSc
Lecturer

Overview
Embodiment, Psycholinguistics, Inner speech and Cognition (EPIC) Lab
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ResearchGate
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Biography
Research Interests
Research in the EPIC lab broadly falls within Cognitive Neuroscience of Language. We use a wide range of methods including reaction times, fMRI, EEG/ERP, neurostimulation (TMS/tDCS/tACS), eye tracking and machine learning.
Our current research focuses on inner speech experience in silent reading, induced verbal hallucinations in healthy adults, conceptual processing of abstract concepts, the embodiment of language syntax, indirect language communication and gestures.
External Grant Funding
> 2021-2022, Yao, B., EPS Small Grant, EPS, £3,500.
> 2019-2020, Yao, B., Bial Foundation Grants for Scientific Research (284/2018), Bial Foundation, €45,000.
> 2019-2020, Yao, B. & Keitel, A., British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grant (SRG1819\191229), The British Academy, £9,942.
> 2016-2019, Yao, B., ESRC Future Research Leaders (ES/N002784/1), ESRC, £270,778.
> 2013-2015, Yao, B., Study Visit grant, EPS, £2,000.
Current Lab Members
> Dr Bo Yao (PI, director)
> Ryan Horsfall (Postdoc)
> Olivia Mak (PhD student)
> Jaydan Pratts (PhD student)
> Tslil Ofir (PhD student)
> Guyu Shen (PhD student)
> Jiaxuan Chen (PhD student)
> Lysandra Fryer-Petridis (MSci student)
Biography
2013 Lecturer University of Manchester, UK
2012 Research Fellow University of Kent, UK
2011 PhD Psychology University of Glasgow, UK
2008 BSc Biology Xiamen (Amoy) University, China
Social responsibility
I ran Café Scientifique Manchester (free monthly science talks) for the general public from 2013 to 2019 (when COVID happened). [Facebook group]
Cafe Scientifique Manchester is now LIVE with Scientists.
Our lab are committed to public engagement.
Our research has media presence. E.g., Science and Tech interview on Sanguine, Radio 4 interview on Hot Gossip!, Youtube.
Memberships of committees and professional bodies
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
Member of the Associations for Psychological Science (APS)
Member of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM)
Member of the Society for the Neurobiology of Language (SNL)
Member of the British Association for Cognitive Neuroscience (BACN)
Member of the Experimental Psychology Society (EPS)
Areas of expertise
- RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry - fMRI, EEG, TMS/tDCS, Eye tracking, R, MATLAB, SPM, EEGLAB
- BF Psychology - Embodied cognition, Reported speech, Social interaction
- P Philology. Linguistics - Psycholinguistics, Pragmatics
Biology, Medicine and Health (BMH) Domains
Keywords
- cognitive neuroscience, experimental psychology, psycholinguistics, language, embodied cognition, pragmatics, ERP/EEG, fMRI, TMS
Related information
Publications
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Activities
Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
Activity: Membership › Membership of committee
Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
Datasets
View all (2)Student Theses
UoM administered thesis: Master of Philosophy
UoM administered thesis: Master of Philosophy