Biography
• Associate Professor, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Assistant Professor, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Visiting Post-doctoral scholar, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
• Doctor of Philosophy (Neuropsychology), Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
• Master of Science (Applied Psychology), Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
• Bachelor of Science (Psychology), East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
Research Interests
Dr Jia Huang has long been interested in the reward processing, cognitive and emotion processing individuals at risk for mental disorders and in patients with schizophrenia or depression. Her main research interests include
• Identification of biomarkers of adolescent depression
• Risk factors of Subclinical Populations for Cognitive and Emotional deficits
• Functional imaging correlates with reward processing in individuals with social anhedonia
• Cognitive training interventions for precision and translational psychiatry
Recent Publications
• Gao X, Pu J, Zhao X, Zhao Y, Mu W, Lui SSY, Huang J*, Chan RCK. Reward Motivation Adaptation Deficits Are Specific to Co-Occurring Subclinical Depression and Anhedonia. Behav Sci (Basel). 2026 Mar 20;16(3):464. doi: 10.3390/bs16030464. PMID: 41898125; PMCID: PMC13024454.
• Tuo D, Huang YH, Liu SSY, Huang J*, Chan RCK. Interplay Among Reward Processing, Schizotypal Traits, and Psychosocial Stress in a Large Chinese Young Adult Sample: A Cross-Sectional Network Analysis. Psych J. 2026 Jun;15(3):e70102. doi: 10.1002/pchj.70102. PMID: 42159299; PMCID: PMC13240555.
• Wang H, Huang J*, Lui SSY, Chan RCK. The neural basis of reward magnitude, effort level, and subjective value: An activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of effort-based reward tasks in healthy cohorts. Neuropsychology. 2026 May;40(4):438-450. doi: 10.1037/neu0001068. Epub 2026 Feb 9. PMID: 41661588.
• Pan Y, Wang H, Zhou Q, Huang B, Pu C, Lui SSY, Huang J*, Chan RCK. Dysfunctions of Reward Motivation Adaptation in Patients With Schizophrenia. Psych J. 2025 Dec;14(6):997-1007. doi: 10.1002/pchj.70056. Epub 2025 Oct 9 PMID: 41065321; PMCID: PMC12702600.
• Wang LL, Gao Y, Yan C, Hu HX, Huang J, Lui SSY, Wang Y, Chan RCK. Altered posterior mid-cingulate cortex activation during adaptive coding in individuals with schizotypal traits, subthreshold depression and autistic traits. J Psychiatr Res. 2026 Feb;193:163-171. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.11.022. Epub 2025 Nov 25. PMID: 41317725.
• Pu J, Ren Q, Huang YH, Wang X, Wang LL, Hu HX, Zhang YJ, Wang YR, Wang Y, Huang J, Wang Y, Lui SSY, Chan RCK. The Effects of Online Working Memory Training on Enhancing Hedonic Processing in People With Social Anhedonia and Subsyndromal Depression: An Exploratory Study. Psych J. 2026 Feb;15(1):e70084. doi: 10.1002/pchj.70084. PMID: 41663091; PMCID: PMC12885620.
• Gao Y, Wang Y, Huang Y, Yan C, Huang J, Wang K, Yao Z, Lui SSY, Yang T, Chan RCK. Affective forecasting in people with autistic traits, social anhedonia, and subthreshold depression: a multi-method study. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2026 Jun 9. doi: 10.1007/s00406-026-02281-3. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42262563.
• Wang X, Yu JT, Wang LL, Huang J, Wang Y, Lui SSY, Chan RCK. Cerebellar Stimulation Modulates Reward Processing: A High-definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Study. Cerebellum. 2025 Sep 10;24(5):153. doi: 10.1007/s12311-025-01902-2. PMID: 40928685.
• Chan RCK, Wang LL, Huang J, Wang Y, Lui SSY. Anhedonia Across and Beyond the Schizophrenia Spectrum. Schizophr Bull. 2025 Mar 14;51(2):293-308. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbae165. PMID: 39326030; PMCID: PMC11908851.
• Zhu Z, Yin X, Huang J, Wang Y, Qi Q, Wang P, Lui SSY, Hui L, Chan RCK. Reduced serum FGF17 levels are associated with deficits in motivation, pleasure, and expression in antidepressant-free patients with major depressive disorder. Asian J Psychiatr. 2026 May;119:104973. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2026.104973. Epub 2026 Apr 7. PMID: 41962256.
• Wang LL, Wang J, Liu BH, Tuo D, Lui SSY, Wan WQ, Huang J*, Chan RCK. Neural substrates of the interaction between effort-expenditure reward decision-making and outcome anticipation. Behav Brain Res. 2024 May 28;466:114979. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114979. Epub 2024 Apr 4. PMID: 38582409.
• Huang B, Pu C, Guo X, Chan RCK, Huang J*, Yu X*. Hypo- and hyper-activation in frontotemporal lobe during humor processing in patients with first episode schizophrenia. Asian J Psychiatr. 2024 Feb;92:103892. doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103892. Epub 2023 Dec 23. Erratum in: Asian J Psychiatr. 2024 Jun;96:104035. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104035. PMID: 38160523.
• Chan RCK, Wang LL, Huang J, Wang Y, Lui SSY. Anhedonia Across and Beyond the Schizophrenia Spectrum. Schizophr Bull. 2025 Mar 14;51(2):293-308. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbae165. PMID: 39326030; PMCID: PMC11908851.
• Zhang RT, Yang TX, Wang ZY, Yang MY, Huang J, Wang Y, Lui SSY, Chan RCK. Anticipated Pleasure and Displeasure for Future Social and nonsocial Events: A Scale Development Study. Schizophr Bull Open. 2023 Aug 22;4(1):sgad024. doi:10.1093/schizbullopen/sgad024. PMID: 39145332; PMCID: PMC11207892.
• Le BL, Huang YH, Wang LL, Hu HX, Wang X, Wang Y, Wang Y, Huang J, Lui SSY,Chan RCK. Individuals with high levels of autistic traits exhibit impaired cognitive but not affective theory of mind and empathy. Psych J. 2024 Jun;13(3):486-493. doi: 10.1002/pchj.727. Epub 2024 Feb 1. PMID: 38298152;PMCID: PMC11169754.
• Yan YJ, Hu HX, Zhang YJ, Wang LL, Pan YM, Lui SSY, Huang J*, Chan RCK*. Reward motivation adaptation in people with negative schizotypal features: development of a novel behavioural paradigm and identifying its neural correlates using resting-state functional connectivity analysis. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2024 Jun;274(4):941-953. doi: 10.1007/s00406-023-01640-8. Epub 2023 Jul 3. PMID: 37395812.
• Pan YM, Hu HX, Wang LL, Wang H, Lui SSY, Huang J*, Chan RCK. The prediction of effort-reward imbalance for reward motivation. Psych J. 2023 Oct;12(5):746-748.doi: 10.1002/pchj.652. Epub 2023 Jun 8. PMID: 37291952.
• Wang X, Zhang Y, Huang J, Wang Y, Niu Y, Lui SSY, Hui L, Chan RCK. Revisiting reward impairments in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis for neuroimaging findings. Psychol Med. 2023 Nov;53(15):7189-7202.doi: 10.1017/S0033291723000703. Epub 2023 Mar 30. PMID: 36994747.
• Ye JY, Qin XJ, Cui JF, Shi HS, Liu JL, Huang J, Wang Y, Yang TX, Lui SSY,Wang Y, Chan RCK. Neural correlates of mental time travel in individuals with high level of schizotypy. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2023 Jun8;124:110734. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110734. Epub 2023 Feb 14. PMID:36796475.
• Chen T, Huang J, Cui JF, Li Z, Irish M, Wang Y, Chan RCK. Neural correlates of schizotypal traits: Findings from connectome-based predictive modelling. Asian J Psychiatr. 2023 Mar;81:103430. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103430. Epub 2022 Dec 28. PMID: 36608611.
• Zhang YJ, Hu HX, Wang LL, Wang X, Wang Y, Huang J, Wang Y, Lui SSY, Hui L,Chan RCK. Altered neural mechanism of social reward anticipation in individuals with schizophrenia and social anhedonia. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2023 Aug;273(5):1029-1039. doi: 10.1007/s00406-022-01505-6. Epub 2022 Oct 28. PMID:36305919.
• Chen T, Huang J, Cui JF, Li Z, Wang Y, Irish M, Chan RCK. Functional Coupling between the Fronto-Parietal Network and Default Mode Network Is Associated with Balanced Time Perspective. Brain Sci. 2022 Sep 6;12(9):1201.doi: 10.3390/brainsci12091201. PMID: 36138937; PMCID: PMC9496926.
• Zhang YJ, Hu HX, Wang LL, Wang X, Wang Y, Huang J, Wang Y, Lui SSY, Hui L,Chan RCK. Decoupling between hub-connected functional connectivity of the social brain network and real-world social network in individuals with social anhedonia. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2022 Oct;326:111528. doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2022.111528. Epub 2022 Aug 18. PMID: 36027707.
• Cai XL, Pu CC, Zhou SZ, Wang Y, Huang J, Lui SSY, Møller A, Cheung EFC,Madsen KH, Xue R, Yu X, Chan RCK. Anterior cingulate glutamate levels associate with functional activation and connectivity during sensory integration in schizophrenia: a multimodal <sup>1</sup>H-MRS and fMRI study. Psychol Med. 2023 Aug;53(11):4904-4914. doi: 10.1017/S0033291722001817. Epub 2022 Jul 6. PMID: 35791929.
• Chen T, Li Z, Cui JF, Huang J, Irish M, Wang Y, Chan RCK. The neural substrates of sex differences in balanced time perspective: A unique role for the precuneus. Brain Imaging Behav. 2022 Oct;16(5):2239-2247. doi:10.1007/s11682-022-00694-x. Epub 2022 Jun 7. PMID: 35670932.
• Yan YJ, Hu HX, Wang LL, Zhang YJ, Lui SSY, Huang J*, Chan RCK*. Negative schizotypal traits predict the reduction of reward motivation in effort-reward imbalance. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2023 Mar;273(2):439-445. doi:10.1007/s00406-022-01419-3. Epub 2022 May 31. PMID: 35637380.
• Wang YY, Wang Y, Huang J, Sun XH, Wang XZ, Zhang SX, Zhu GH, Lui SSY, Cheung EFC, Sun HW, Chan RCK. Shared and distinct reward neural mechanisms among patients with schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder: aneffort-based functional imaging study. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2022 Aug;272(5):859-871. doi: 10.1007/s00406-021-01376-3. Epub 2022 Jan 26. PMID: 35079855.
• Kong L, Lui SSY, Wang Y, Hung KSY, Ho KKH, Wang Y, Huang J, Mak HKF, Sham PC, Cheung EFC, Chan RCK. Structural network alterations and their association with neurological soft signs in schizophrenia: Evidence from clinical patients and unaffected siblings. Schizophr Res. 2022 Oct;248:345-352. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2021.11.042. Epub 2021 Dec 4. PMID: 34872833.
• Zhang RT, Yang ZY, Huang J, Wang YM, Zhou HY, Wang Y, Lui SSY, Cheung EFC,Chan RCK. Neural mechanisms of prospection in individuals with schizotypal traits, autistic traits, or depressive symptoms. J Abnorm Psychol. 2021 Nov;130(8):807-814. doi: 10.1037/abn0000709. PMID: 34843287.
• Wang LL, Lam CYT, Huang J, Cheung EFC, Lui SSY, Chan RCK. Range-Adaptive Value Representation in Different Stages of Schizophrenia: A Proof of Concept Study. Schizophr Bull. 2021 Oct 21;47(6):1524-1533. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbab099.PMID: 34420057; PMCID: PMC8530390.
• Yang ZY, Zhang RT, Wang YM, Huang J, Zhou HY, Cheung EFC, Chan RCK. Altered activation and functional connectivity in individuals with social anhedonia when envisioning positive future episodes. Psychol Med. 2021 Mar 29:1-9. doi:10.1017/S0033291721000970. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33775271.
• Yan YJ, Huang J*, Lui SSY, Cheung EFC, Madsen KH, Chan RCK*. The effect of effort-reward imbalance on brain structure and resting-state functional connectivity in individuals with high levels of schizotypal traits. Cogn Neuropsychiatry. 2021 May;26(3):166-182. doi: 10.1080/13546805.2021.1899906.Epub 2021 Mar 11. PMID: 33706673.
• Cai XL, Wang YM, Wang Y, Zhou HY, Huang J, Wang Y, Lui SSY, Møller A, Hung KSY, Mak HKF, Sham PC, Cheung EFC, Chan RCK. Neurological Soft Signs Are Associated With Altered Cerebellar-Cerebral Functional Connectivity in Schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull. 2021 Aug 21;47(5):1452-1462. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbaa200. PMID: 33479738; PMCID: PMC8379549.
• Li Z, Huang J, Hung KSY, Deng Y, Wang Y, Wang Y, Lui SSY, Mak HKF, Sham PC,Cheung EFC, Öngür D, Dazzan P, Chan RCK. Cerebellar hypoactivation is associated with impaired sensory integration in schizophrenia. J Abnorm Psychol. 2021 Jan;130(1):102-111. doi: 10.1037/abn0000636. Epub 2020 Oct 19. PMID: 33074697.
Academic Journal Editorial Services
• Behavioral Sciences (Board Member)
• Schizophrenia Research: Cognition (Board Member)
• Frontiers in Psychology (Board Member)