Professor Yuan Chang Leong's Pioneering Research into the Brain's Construction of Subjective Reality

Professor Yuan Chang Leong, a distinguished recipient of the 2026 APS Spence Award and an assistant professor at the University of Chicago, is at the forefront of neuroscience research. Leading the Computational Affective and Social Neuroscience Laboratory, his groundbreaking work focuses on deciphering how our emotions and social interactions sculpt our subjective experiences. Leong's interdisciplinary approach, integrating cognitive neuroscience and computational modeling, offers profound insights into how individual desires, goals, and fears influence our perception of the world and the intricate processes by which our brains construct reality. His research endeavors not only aim to understand these complex mechanisms but also aspire to foster conditions that promote well-being and adaptive behavior.

Leong's fascination with the subjective nature of perception was ignited by Akira Kurosawa's classic film 'Rashomon,' which vividly illustrates how personal motives color different accounts of the same event. This cinematic exploration of varied perspectives mirrors Leong's scientific inquiry: how do individuals, observing the same reality, arrive at distinct interpretations and conclusions? He recognized that our responses to the world are as revealing of our inner selves as they are of external stimuli. This realization propelled him to leverage tools from cognitive neuroscience and computational modeling, allowing researchers to peer into the 'mind of the beholder' and study human perception in dynamic, everyday contexts, from watching films to engaging in social interactions.

Among the significant discoveries from Leong's laboratory is the concept of 'motivated seeing.' Challenging the long-standing debate in psychology about whether desire influences perception or merely reporting, his team utilized neuroimaging to demonstrate that motivation directly strengthens neural representations corresponding to desired interpretations of ambiguous images. This finding reveals that our brain's encoding of the visual environment is not purely objective but is actively shaped by our internal states. Further extending this work, Leong explored 'neural polarization' in political contexts, observing that individuals with opposing political views exhibit divergent neural responses to identical news content. This phenomenon, he posits, stems from differing semantic interpretations of language, where seemingly neutral phrases carry distinct meanings across the political spectrum. More recently, his lab has uncovered how emotional moments in narratives lead to increased cohesion across brain networks, enhancing memory formation and illustrating emotion's role in coordinating brain systems during unfolding experiences.

The journey through an interdisciplinary field, while exhilarating, presents its own set of hurdles. Leong's work, straddling social and affective neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, and social psychology, demands a fluency across diverse intellectual traditions. Each discipline, with its unique terminology, foundational assumptions, evidentiary standards, and scholarly community, requires a nuanced approach to communication and collaboration. Mastering the art of 'code-switching' to convey complex ideas effectively across these boundaries and actively participating in multiple intellectual communities remains a continuous learning process for him.

Looking ahead, Leong is committed to exploring more naturalistic research environments. His lab is embracing functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a mobile and cost-effective neuroimaging technique that allows for the simultaneous scanning of multiple individuals as they naturally interact. This innovative approach facilitates the study of how emotions, goals, and social dynamics unfold in real-time, such as during conversations between romantic partners, moving beyond the constraints of traditional fMRI methods. Leong emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, seeking out diverse ideas through consistent reading, conference attendance, and engaging in seminar series. He also stresses the invaluable role of mentorship and collaboration in scientific pursuit, acknowledging that supportive relationships not only impart methods but also broaden perspectives, refine critical thinking, and transform science into a shared intellectual endeavor. He expresses profound gratitude for the Janet Taylor Spence Award, viewing it not just as a personal accolade but as a testament to the collective efforts of his mentors, collaborators, and dedicated lab members.