Zhuolei, Jeffrey, Ding

PhD Candidate investigating the cognitive mechanisms of memory, metacognition, and learning disabilities.

Zhuolei (Jeffrey) Ding is a PhD Candidate at Beijing Normal University, specializing in the intersection of cognitive neuroscience and special education. His research focuses on how active learning and self-determined choice affect memory formation, particularly in children with learning disabilities. Using EEG/ERP and behavioral methods, he explores the neural dynamics of metacognition and memory to develop effective interventions for special needs education.

Current Position: PhD Candidate, Beijing Normal University
Location: Beijing, China
Email: dingzhuolei@mail.bnu.edu.cn

Research Projects

Exploring Cognitive Mechanisms & Educational Applications

Neurocognitive Development of Agency on Memory

Investigating how self-determined choice modulates theta-band oscillations during memory encoding and how this mechanism evolves from childhood to adulthood. This work maps the neural trajectories of agency-driven memory benefits, differentiating active volitional control from passive processing.

EEG/ERP Development Agency

Active Learning in Special Education

A developmental series examining the efficacy of active control in children with learning disabilities (LD). Recent findings suggest that while typical peers benefit significantly from active choice, children with LD may show reduced benefits, pointing to specific deficits in the metamemory-control loop.

Learning Disabilities Intervention

Social Agents in Memory Formation

Exploring how social context influences memory retention in children aged 5-10. This project compares the memory benefits of self-choice versus choices made by mothers or strangers, bridging social psychology with cognitive development to understand how social relatedness impacts learning.

Social Cognition Pedagogy

Intrinsic & Extrinsic Motivation on Memory

Examining the interactive effects of external rewards (monetary) and internal motivation (self-determined choice) on memory binding. Findings indicate that memory benefit from intrinsic agency was decreased when external rewards were introduced, providing a interactive pathway for educational motivation.

Motivation Reward Processing

Publications

Selected Peer-Reviewed Articles

Active control enhances memory less in children with learning disabilities compared to their typically developing peers.

Ding, Z., Chen, C., Wang, H., Wang, Y., Zhang, S., & Zhang, M. (2025). Research in Developmental Disabilities, 165, 105111.

The roles of self-, mother-, and stranger-determined choice in memory in 5-to 10-year-old Chinese children.

Li, Q., Ding, Z., Chen, C., Liu, X., & Zhang, M. (2025). Cognitive Development, 74, 101583.

The effect of choice on memory across development.

Ding, Z., Li, W., Chen, C., Yang, Z., Wang, S., Xu, J., Liu, X., & Zhang, M. (2024). Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 246, 105982.

The effect of choice on memory: The role of theta oscillations.

Cheng, S., Ding, Z., Chen, C., Sun, W., Jiang, T., Liu, X., & Zhang, M. (2023). Psychophysiology, 60(12), e14390.

The interactive effect of external rewards and self-determined choice on memory.

Xue, J., Jiang, T., Chen, C., Murty, V. P., Li, Y., Ding, Z., & Zhang, M. (2023). Psychological Research, 87(7), 2101-2110.

The effect of choice on intentional and incidental memory.

Ding, Z., Jiang, T., Chen, C., Murty, V. P., Xue, J., & Zhang, M. (2021). Learning & Memory, 28(12), 440-444.

Online Experiments

Interactive Cognitive Paradigms

Agency on Memory

Choice Effect Paradigm

Investigates the mnemonic benefit of active choice. Participants encode stimuli under "Choice" or "Forced" conditions.

Encoding Immediate Test Delayed Test

Active Learning Paradigm

A complex active learning task assessing memory retention over time (Immediate vs. Delayed retrieval).

Executive Function

Corsi Block Tapping

Visuospatial working memory task assessing span capacity in forward and backward sequences.

Forward Backward

Size Stroop Task

Inhibition control task examining conflict resolution between physical size and numerical value.

Launch Task

Dimensional Change Card Sort

Cognitive flexibility task assessing the ability to switch rules (Shape vs. Color).