Lecheng Ke

Psychology + Data Science

Lecheng Ke.

Cognition & neuroscience

I’m interested in how brain activity shapes what we notice, remember, and decide—and why these processes differ across people.

I study at Emory University. My research experience spans behavioral experiments, emotional memory, visual perception, and EEG processing. I’m also developing computational projects to explore the mechanisms behind these observations.

Research experience

Emory University Class of 2027 Atlanta

01 / Research interests

From behavior to mechanism.

01

Models &
neural representations

Computational neuroscience · NeuroAI

When a model predicts a response, what has it captured?

I want to understand when a computational or AI model captures something about how the brain represents information, rather than just producing a similar answer. Comparing models with behavior and neural data offers a way to ask where those similarities hold—and where they break down.

Experience behind the questionVisual-perception research in the Dilks Lab, resting-state EEG processing in TReAD, and preliminary neural-dynamics modeling.

02

Brain dynamics &
causal questions

Neural dynamics · Cognitive neuroscience

What could changing neural activity tell us about cognition?

I’m interested in how changes in a neural system affect perception, memory, or behavior. Brain stimulation interests me as a way to test causal explanations, while computational models can make predictions about how a change in input or excitation–inhibition balance might affect the system.

Experience behind the questionAt GIIST, I explored preliminary simulations of external input and neural dynamics. My contribution described here is computational; using stimulation to test cognitive mechanisms is a direction I hope to pursue.

03

Affect, motivation &
memory

Affective neuroscience · Individual differences

Why does the same experience affect people differently?

I’m interested in how emotion and motivation shape what people remember and the decisions they make. I want to understand how differences in reward, effort, and emotional memory might help explain differences in mood and motivation, including symptoms associated with depression.

Experience behind the questionBehavioral study support and EEG processing in TReAD, emotional-memory sessions and transcript coding in Hamann, and earlier work on cognitive effort in macaques.

02 / Research experience

Questions grounded in lab work.

TReAD Lab

Research assistant

Emory University

Supported studies of motivation, effort, and decision-making through participant screening, behavioral task administration, and study coordination. Cleaned resting-state EEG data in EEGLAB, including filtering, channel review, and artifact review.

Hamann Lab

Research assistant

Emory University

Independently administered emotional-memory sessions and coded recall transcripts using established scoring schemes. Participated in reliability checks and maintained consistent participant-facing procedures.

Guangdong Institute of Intelligent Science and Technology

Research intern

Zhuhai, China

Explored preliminary Python simulations of how external input and excitation–inhibition balance might change neural dynamics, in the context of ultrasound-related neuromodulation research. The simulation workflow is being rebuilt and documented.

Dilks Lab

Research assistant

Emory University

Ran EyeLink setup, calibration, and gaze-data quality checks for work on blind-spot filling-in and short-term visual plasticity. Collected behavioral and eye-tracking data under standardized protocols.

Comparative Primate Cognition Lab

Research assistant

Emory National Primate Research Center

Helped design controlled tasks asking whether rhesus macaques avoid working-memory effort when physical effort and reward are held constant. Contributed to proposals, task materials, and experimental sessions.

Griggs Lab

Research assistant

Emory University

Screened literature for a systematic review of brain health, cognition, and sleep; created REDCap instruments; and helped plan a public-data analysis. Dataset selection and the empirical analysis were not yet finalized.

Teaching, clinical exposure & service

Peer tutoring · Emory University

Individual and group tutoring in psychology, neuroscience, and quantitative coursework.

Clinical internship · Shenzhen Longhua People’s Hospital

Observed neurology and clinical psychology practice and supported coordination and participant engagement in a youth mental-health program.

Sprouting Readers & ELSA · Emory University

Mentored children through reading activities and supported campus library and wellness events.

Honors

Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society · Dean’s List

03 / Computational projects

Models I’m learning from.

GitHub

Small working models and ongoing explorations, with their assumptions and current limits.

Computational learningNeuron dynamics in PythonWorking demo

A reproducible Izhikevich regular-spiking neuron simulation, implemented with NumPy and visualized with Matplotlib. It records membrane voltage, a recovery variable, and spike times under an applied current.

View repository

What I’m working toward

Exploring additional firing patterns and developing a BrainPy-native implementation. The current standalone demo uses NumPy; it is a learning model, not a fitted model of human neural data.

Independent concept projectBrain-state circuit resonanceSynthetic prototype

An exploration of state representations, memory cues, and feedback. The repository includes an interactive browser prototype and synthetic-data experiments that make assumptions about state similarity and uncertainty explicit.

View repository

Current limits

The simulations use synthetic data. They do not demonstrate human memory reconstruction, neural decoding performance, or clinical effects. I’m continuing to refine the modeling questions and document the assumptions.

Developing honors researchCausal judgments in people and LLMsIn development

A developing project comparing how people and language models distinguish causal evidence from correlation. Planned matched scenarios vary evidence type, wording, alternative explanations, and prior plausibility.

Human cognition & AI research

Where it stands

Literature review and initial LLM pilots are complete. Materials and the human experiment are being planned; human data collection has not begun.

Hands-on learningPhysical AI explorationEarly exploration

I’m beginning to explore what sensing, action, and interaction with the physical world add to the problem of intelligence. This is an early learning project, and I’m still deciding what to build.

Next step

Document the builds, choices, and observations as the project develops.

04 / Coursework

Courses, term by term.

Psychology, data science, neuroscience, and related fields.

Enrollment as of September 3, 2026. Fall 2026 courses are in progress. This list covers courses taken at Emory; AP and test equivalencies are not included.

Fall 20265 coursesIn progress
  • DATASCI 495AHonors Research
  • DATASCI 530Computing I
  • ENVS 229Atmospheric Science with Lab
  • ENVS 485Special TopicsTopic: Ecosystems of the Southeast
  • PSYC 352The Genetics of Human Behavior
Spring 20266 coursesCompleted
  • DATASCI 220Regression Analysis
  • DATASCI 350Data Science Computing
  • ENVS 385Topics: Environmental StudiesTopic: Restoration Ecology
  • JPN 102Elementary Japanese II
  • NBB 318Introduction to Feminist Neuroscience
  • PSYC 499RDirected Research
Fall 20257 coursesCompleted
  • ENVS 131Introduction to Environmental Studies Field Studies
  • ENVS 232Fundamentals of Ecology with Lab
  • JPN 101Elementary Japanese I
  • PSYC 499RDirected Research
  • QTM 210Probability and Statistics
  • QTM 340Approaches to Data Science with Text
  • QTM 385Special Topics: QTMTopic: Experimental Methods
Spring 20256 coursesCompleted
  • PSYC 200WLab in Experimental Methods
  • PSYC 324Sleep & Dreaming, Brain & Mind
  • PSYC 353Behavioral Neuroscience
  • PSYC 499RDirected Research
  • PSYC 770RTopic Seminars: PsychologyTopic: Cortical Plasticity
  • QTM 151Introduction to Statistical Computing II
Fall 20246 coursesCompleted
  • BIOL 141Foundations of Modern Biology I
  • BIOL 141LFoundations of Modern Biology I Lab
  • MATH 210Advanced Calculus for Data Sciences
  • NBB 201Foundations of Behavior
  • PSYC 207Brain & Behavior
  • QTM 110Introduction to Scientific Methods
Spring 20246 coursesCompleted
  • ENVS 140Environmental Change & Health
  • HIST 190Freshman SeminarTopic: Fake News 2015–Present
  • PE 167Beginning Yoga
  • PSYC 111Introduction to Psychology II
  • PSYC 209Perception and Action
  • QTM 150Introduction to Statistical Computing I
Fall 20237 coursesCompleted
  • CHN 271Modern China in Film & Fiction
  • ECS 101Emory Edge
  • HLTH 100It’s Your Health & Wellbeing
  • MATH 221Linear Algebra
  • PSYC 110Introduction to Psychology I: Psychobiology & Cognition
  • PSYC 212Social Psychology
  • QTM 100Introduction to Statistical Inference

05 / Contact

Let’s talk about
cognition and the brain.

I’m preparing to apply to PhD programs for Fall 2027.

rola.ke@emory.eduGitHub projectsRequest my CV