Nanyin Zhang
Director of the Center for Neurotechnology in Mental Health Research; Huck Chair in Brain Imaging; Professor of Bioengineering

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W341 Millennium Science Building
University Park, PA - nuz2@psu.edu
- 814-867-4791
Research Summary
Investigating the pathophysiology of brain disorders using neuroimaging, behavioral and optogenetic methods.
Huck Affiliations
- Neuroscience
- Neuroscience Institute
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences
- Center for Molecular Investigation of Neurological Disorders
- Center for Brain, Behavior, and Cognition
- Center for Neurotechnology in Mental Health Research
Links
Most Recent Publications
Genetic influences of resting-state neural networks: a twin study
Y Fu, Z Ma, C Hamilton, Z Liang, X Hou, X Ma, X Hu, H Meng, Q He, W Deng, Y Wang, L Zhao, T Li, Nanyin Zhang, Human Brain Mapping on p. 3959–3972
An open database of resting-state fMRI in awake rats
Yikang Liu, Pablo Perez, Zilu Ma, Zhiwei Ma, David Dopfel, Samuel Cramer, Wenyu Tu, Nanyin Zhang, NeuroImage on p. 1170942
A splitting mind: imbalanced internal and external worlds in schizophrenia
M Li, W Deng, Z He, Q Wang, C Huang, L Jiang, Q Gong, D Ziedonis, J King, X Ma, Nanyin Zhang, Tao Li, on p. 145-153
Relationship of mindful awareness to neural processing of anger stimuli and impact of mindfulness training
A Lee, D Gansler, Nanyin Zhang, M Jerram, J King, C Fulwiler, Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging on p. 22-28
Sex-specific signatures of GLP-1 and amylin on resting state brain activity and functional connectivity in awake rats
Tanzil M. Arefin, Stina Börchers, Doris Olekanma, Samuel R. Cramer, Morgan R. Sotzen, Nanyin Zhang, Karolina P. Skibicka, 2025, Neuropharmacology
Biodegradable Citrate-Based Polymers Enable 5D Monitoring of Implant Evolution
Dingying Shan, Dingbowen Wang, Yuncong Ma, Zhifeng Liang, Dino J. Ravnic, Nanying Zhang, Jian Yang, 2025, Advanced Functional Materials
Sequential Deactivation Across the Hippocampus-Thalamus-mPFC Pathway During Loss of Consciousness
Xiaoai Chen, Samuel R. Cramer, Dennis C.Y. Chan, Xu Han, Nanyin Zhang, 2024, Advanced Science
Disparity in temporal and spatial relationships between resting-state electrophysiological and fMRI signals
Wenyu Tu, Samuel R. Cramer, Nanyin Zhang, 2024, eLife
Exploring memory-related network via dorsal hippocampus suppression
Xu Han, Samuel Cramer, Dennis Chan, Nanyin Zhang, 2024, Network Neuroscience on p. 1310-1330
Multiparametric Brain Hemodynamics Imaging Using a Combined Ultrafast Ultrasound and Photoacoustic System
Haoyang Chen, Shubham Mirg, S Agrawal, Prameth Gaddale, M Li, Sumit Agrawal, Menghan Li, V Nguyen, T Xu, Van Nguyen, Q Li, Tianbao Xu, Qiong Li, J Liu, Jinyun Liu, W Tu, Wenyu Tu, X Liu, Patrick Drew, Xiao Liu, Patrick J. Drew, Nanyin Zhang, Bruce Gluckman, Bruce J. Gluckman, S Kothapalli, Sri Rajasekhar Kothapalli, 2024, Advanced Science on p. 2401467
Most-Cited Papers
Time to wake up: Studying neurovascular coupling and brain-wide circuit function in the un-anesthetized animal
Yu Rong Gao, Yuncong Ma, Qingguang Zhang, Aaron T. Winder, Zhifeng Liang, Lilith Antinori, Patrick J. Drew, Nanyin Zhang, 2017, NeuroImage on p. 382-398
Rodent models of post-traumatic stress disorder: behavioral assessment
Alexander Verbitsky, David Dopfel, Nanyin Zhang, 2020, Translational Psychiatry
Co-activation patterns in resting-state fMRI signals
Xiao Liu, Nanyin Zhang, Catie Chang, Jeff H. Duyn, 2018, NeuroImage on p. 485-494
Dynamic resting state functional connectivity in awake and anesthetized rodents
Zhifeng Liang, Xiao Liu, Nanyin Zhang, 2015, NeuroImage on p. 89-99
Mapping the functional network of medial prefrontal cortex by combining optogenetics and fMRI in awake rats
Zhifeng Liang, Glenn D.R. Watson, Kevin D. Alloway, Gangchea Lee, Thomas Neuberger, Nanyin Zhang, 2015, NeuroImage on p. 114-123
Dynamic Connectivity Patterns in Conscious and Unconscious Brain
Yuncong Ma, Christina Hamilton, Nanyin Zhang, 2017, Brain Connectivity on p. 1-12
A role for the claustrum in salience processing?
Jared B. Smith, Glenn D.R. Watson, Zhifeng Liang, Yikang Liu, Nanyin Zhang, Kevin D. Alloway, 2019, Frontiers in Neuroanatomy
Genetic influences on resting-state functional networks: A twin study
Yixiao Fu, Zhiwei Ma, Christina Hamilton, Zhifeng Liang, Xiao Hou, Xingshun Ma, Xiaomei Hu, Qian He, Wei Deng, Yingcheng Wang, Liansheng Zhao, Huaqing Meng, Tao Li, Nanyin Zhang, 2015, Human Brain Mapping on p. 3959-3972
Simultaneous GCaMP6-based fiber photometry and fMRI in rats
Zhifeng Liang, Yuncong Ma, Glenn D.R. Watson, Nanyin Zhang, 2017, Journal of Neuroscience Methods on p. 31-38
Interhemispheric resting-state functional connectivity of the claustrum in the awake and anesthetized states
Jared B. Smith, Zhifeng Liang, Glenn D.R. Watson, Kevin D. Alloway, Nanyin Zhang, 2017, Brain Structure and Function on p. 2041-2058
News Articles Featuring Nanyin Zhang
Dec 10, 2024
Brain mechanisms underpinning loss of consciousness identified
Rapid activity in three brain regions appears to trigger loss of consciousness, researchers at Penn State find.
Full Article
Nov 08, 2024
Uncharted territory: A Q&A with Nanyin Zhang on mapping brain activity
To understand how different regions of the brain work together, researchers use a method called resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI). The method measures brain activity by observing changes in blood flow to different parts of the brain; however, rsfMRI does not explain how these blood flow changes to different brain regions relate to what is happening with the brain’s neurons — cells that send and receive messages in the form of electronic signals.
Full Article
Jan 30, 2024
$4M grant funds project to make robotic prostheses more like biological limbs
Prosthetic hands that incorporate robotics can perform dexterous self-care tasks, but they are often hard to operate, requiring a user’s constant attention with a limited number of hand functions. With a five-year, $4 million U.S. National Science Foundation grant, Penn State researchers aim to make robotic protheses more useful for people living with amputations.
Full Article
Nov 10, 2022
Breathing may measurably modulate neural responses across brain, study finds
Mental health practitioners and meditation gurus have long credited intentional breathing with the ability to induce inner calm, but scientists do not fully understand how the brain is involved in the process.
Full Article
Nov 09, 2021
Penn State launches Center for Neurotechnology in Mental Health Research
Penn State is launching a University-wide center to bridge fundamental research to understand the brain and mind with potential clinical applications for diagnosing and treating mental health disorders.
Full Article
Jul 24, 2020
Researchers to examine relation of dysfunctional brain hubs to mental disorders
The National Institutes of Health has awarded Penn State researchers a $1.85 million grant to develop a new way to test if dysfunctions in certain areas of the brain lead to mental health complications and brain disorders. If successful, the research could lead to better mental health treatments.
Full Article