Ph.D., Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience), University of South Florida

B.S., Educational Technology, Shandong Normal University

After obtaining her Bachelor’s at Shandong Normal University, Dr. Xiaoqian (Sophy) Yu joined the Wisconsin Institute for Sleep and Consciousness at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a research specialist. This experience has led her to pursue a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of South Florida. Dr. Yu then completed her post-doctoral fellowships at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Laureate Institute for Brain Research in the US.

Dr. Yu’s past research has focused on both basic research and applied research of human event related potentials (ERPs), particularly in the use of P300-based brain-computer interface (BCI) spellers and the cognitive processes underlying mindfulness meditation. Her current research program focuses on leveraging behavioral and neuroscientific approaches to understand the neural mechanisms of mindfulness and its efficacy in reducing clinical symptoms.

1. Yu, X., Cohen, Z.; Tsuchiyagaito, F.; Cochran, G.; Aupperle, A.; Stewart, J.; Singh, M; Misaki, M.; Bodurka, J.; Paulus, M.; Kirlic, N. (2022). Neurofeedback augmented mindfulness training elicits distinct responses in the subregions of the insular cortex in healthy adolescents. Brain Sciences.

2. Yu, X., Langberg, J. M., & Becker, S. P. (2022). Dispositional mindfulness moderates the relation between brooding rumination and sleep quality in adolescents. Sleep Medicine. 

3. Yu, X., Silva-Sauer, L., & Donchin, E. (2020). Habituation of P300 in the use of P300-based brain-computer interface (BCI) spellers: Individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) vs. age-matched controls. Clinical EEG and Neuroscience.

4. Guo*, D., Sun*, L., Yu*, X., Liu*, T., Wu, L., Sun, Z., ... & Liu, W. (2019). Mindfulness-based stress reduction improves the general health and stress of Chinese military recruits: A pilot study. Psychiatry Research, 112571.*co-first author

PSY2100-CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

PSY4230-EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

PSY4360-PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY

PSY4940-SEMINAR: ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY

PSY5020-APPLIED RESEARCH METHODS & INQUIRY