Research Areas
Visual perception, attention and brain disorders
High-resolution brain imaging techniques
Education
2001-2007 Ph.D. in Biophysics, School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China.
1997–2001 B.S. in Biology, School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China.
Publications
1. Qian, C., Zhang, Z., Chen, Z., de Hollander, G., Knapen, T., He, S., & Zhang, P.* (2025). Mesoscale cortical mechanisms of perceptual conflict resolution in binocular rivalry. Nature Human Behaviour.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-025-02320-4
2. Liu, C.#, Liu, C.#, Huber, L., Zhaoping, L., & Zhang, P.* (2025). The superficial layers of the primary visual cortex create a saliency map that feeds forward to the parietal cortex. PLOS Biology, 23(10), e3003159.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003159
3. Qian, Y.#, Sun, Z.#, Wang, Y.#, Gao, Y., Qian, C., Zhou, J.*, & Zhang, P.* (2025). Two opposing yet complementary ocular dominance plasticities: Thalamus strengthens the weak channel while higher cortex listens to the strong signal. Communications Biology, 8(1), 1552.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08914-y
4. Lin, W.#, Qian, C.#, Zhang, Y.-Y., Liu, S., Zhang, X., Fang, F., & Zhang, P.* (2025). Spatially global effects of feature-based attention in functional subdivisions of human subcortical nuclei. Communications Biology, 8(1), 1474.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08871-6
5. Chen, N.*, Ai, H., Chen, J., & Zhang, P. (2025). Hierarchical and parallel processing: From primate visual cortex to artificial intelligence. Science China Technological Sciences, 68(8), 1870401.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-025-2971-2
6. Ai, H.#, Lin, W.#, Liu, C., Chen, N.*, & Zhang, P.* (2025). Mesoscale functional organization and connectivity of color, disparity, and naturalistic texture in human second visual area. eLife, 13, RP93171.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.93171
7. Zhou, Y., Guo, S., Ling, L., Gao, Y., Duan, X., Liu, Y., Liu, R., Liu, H., Wang, H., Lin, J., Zhao, C., Zhang, P.*, & Wen, W.* (2025). Efficacy and safety of augmented-reality pathway-specific binocular training in patients with unilateral amblyopia (ARPSBT): Study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Trials, 26(1), 232.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08927-2
8. Gao, Y.#, Zhou, Y.#, He, Q., Wen, W.*, & Zhang, P.* (2025). Improving Adult Vision Through Pathway-Specific Training in Augmented Reality. Advanced Science, 12(21), 2415877.
https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202415877
9. Wang, Y.#, Qian, C.#, Gao, Y.#, Zhou, Y., Zhang, X., Wen, W.*, & Zhang, P.* (2025). Attenuated and delayed neural activity in cortical microcircuitry of monocular processing and binocular interactions in human amblyopia. Imaging Neuroscience, 3, imag_a_00561.
https://doi.org/10.1162/imag_a_00561
10. Knudsen, L.#, Guo, F.#, Sharoh, D., Huang, J., Blicher, J. U., Lund, T. E., Zhou, Y., Zhang, P.*, & Yang, Y.* (2025). The laminar pattern of proprioceptive activation in human primary motor cortex. Cerebral Cortex, 35(4), bhaf076.
https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhaf076
11. Guo, F.#, Zou, J.#, Wang, Y.#, Fang, B., Zhou, H., Wang, D.*, He, S.*, & Zhang, P.* (2024). Human subcortical pathways automatically detect collision trajectory without attention and awareness. PLOS Biology, 22(1), e3002375.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002375
12. Chen, Y.#, Gao, Y.#, He, Z.#, Sun, Z., Mao, Y., Hess, R. F.*, Zhang, P.*, & Zhou, J.* (2023). Internal neural states influence the short-term effect of monocular deprivation in human adults. eLife, 12, e83815.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.83815
13. Wang, H., Wang, X., Wang, Y., Zhang, D., Yang, Y., Zhou, Y., Qiu, B., & Zhang, P.* (2023). White matter BOLD signals at 7 Tesla reveal visual field maps in optic radiation and vertical occipital fasciculus. NeuroImage, 269, 119916.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119916
14. Wen, W.#, Wang, Y.#, Zhou, J., He, S., Sun, X., Liu, H., Zhao, C., & Zhang, P.* (2021). Loss and enhancement of layer-selective signals in geniculostriate and corticotectal pathways of adult human amblyopia. Cell Reports, 37(11), 110117.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110117
15. Liu, C.#, Guo, F.#, Qian, C., Zhang, Z., Sun, K., Wang, D. J., He, S., & Zhang, P.* (2021). Layer-dependent multiplicative effects of spatial attention on contrast responses in human early visual cortex. Progress in Neurobiology, 207, 101897.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101897
16. Cao, R.#, Qian, C.#, Ren, S., He, Z., He, S.*, & Zhang, P.* (2021). Visual adaptation and 7T fMRI reveal facial identity processing in the human brain under shallow interocular suppression. NeuroImage, 244(May), 118622.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118622
17. de Hollander, G.*, van der Zwaag, W., Qian, C., Zhang, P.*, & Knapen, T.* (2021). Ultra-high field fMRI reveals origins of feedforward and feedback activity within laminae of human ocular dominance columns. NeuroImage, 228 (December 2020), 117683.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117683
18. Qian, Y., Zou, J., Zhang, Z., An, J., Zuo, Z., Zhuo, Y., Wang, D. J. J., & Zhang, P.* (2020). Robust functional mapping of layer-selective responses in human lateral geniculate nucleus with high-resolution 7T fMRI. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 287(1925).
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.0245
19. Zou, J., He, S.*, & Zhang, P.* (2016). Binocular rivalry from invisible patterns. PNAS, 113(30).
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1604816113
20. Zhang, P.#, Wen, W.#, Sun, X., & He, S. (2016). Selective reduction of fMRI responses to transient achromatic stimuli in the magnocellular layers of the LGN and the superficial layer of the SC of early glaucoma patients. Hum Brain Mapp, 37(2).
https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.23049
21. Zhang, P.*, Zhou, H., Wen, W., & He, S.* (2015). Layer-specific response properties of the human lateral geniculate nucleus and superior colliculus. NeuroImage, 111, 159-166.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.02.025
22. Zhang, P.*, Jiang, Y., & He, S.* (2012). Voluntary attention modulates processing of eye-specific visual information. Psychological Science, 23(3), 254-260.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611424289
23. Zhang, P.*, Jamison, K., Engel, S., He, B., & He, S. (2011). Binocular rivalry requires visual attention. Neuron, 71(2), 362-369.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2011.05.035
24. Zhang, P., Bao, M., Kwon, M., He, S., & Engel, S. A. (2009). Effects of Orientation-Specific Visual Deprivation Induced with Altered Reality. Current Biology, 19(22), 1956-1960.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2009.10.018
25. Zhang, P., Chen, X., Yuan, P., Zhang, D., & He, S. (2006). The effect of visuospatial attentional load on the processing of irrelevant acoustic distractors. NeuroImage, 33(2), 715-724.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.07.015
Research Interests
Human visual perception, attention and consciousness; visual plasticity; subcortical visual processing; high-resolution neuroimaging (7T fMRI and MEG)