Hi, I’m Haocheng Zhu! I am currently a Ph.D. student at UCLA, working in the Multisensory Processing Lab under the supervision of Dr. Ladan Shams. My research focuses on human perception, computational modeling of cognition, and cross-modal integration. I employ psychophysical experiments and neuroimaging techniques to uncover the general computational principles underlying multisensory perception. I am particularly interested in how the brain integrates information from different sensory modalities to create a unified perceptual experience and how these processes can be modeled computationally.

In addition to my research, I am the author of the BCI Toolbox (Bayesian Causal Inference Toolbox), a Python-based statistical and analytical package designed to facilitate Bayesian analysis for multisensory perception and causal inference studies. The toolbox supports researchers in implementing advanced statistical methods for data analysis, enhancing reproducibility and efficiency in research workflows.

Educations

• 2024.8-present, Ph.D in Computational Cognition, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
• 2024.8-2025.12, MA in Computational Cognition, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
• 2020.9-2024.6, B.S in Psychology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China

Publications

Published

• Zhu, H., Zhang, Y., Beierholm, U., & Shams, L. (2026) Crossmodal interaction of flashes and beeps across time and number follows Bayesian causal inference. Psychon Bull Rev. link
• Wang, A., Zhang, J., Liu, G., Zhu, H., Xing, Z., Yue, C., & Tang, X. (2025). Developmentally enhanced visual reliability reduces susceptibility to the sound-induced flash illusion: Evidence from bayesian causal inference. Consciousness and Cognition. link
• Zhu, H., Beierholm, U., & Shams, L. (2024). The overlooked role of unisensory precision in multisensory research. Current Biology. link
• Zhu, H., Beierholm, U., & Shams, L. (2024). BCI Toolbox: an open source package in python for Bayesian causal inference model. PLoS Computational Biology. link
• Zhu, H., Tang, X., Chen, T., Yang, J., Wang, A., & Zhang, M. (2023). Audiovisual illusion training improves multisensory temporal integration. Consciousness and Cognition. link

Submitted

• Parong, J., Zhu, H., Kamal, K., Hang, L., Moreland, M., Shams, L., Seitz, A., & Green, C., S. Memory Suggestibility: a ‘Sin’ or Optimal Causal Inference?

In Preparation

• Zhu, H., Beierholm, U., & Shams, L. (in prep). Analyzing multisensory integration do’s and don’ts.
• Zhu, H., Wang, A., Shams, L. (in prep). Bayesian causal inference behind multisensory depth perception.
• Quintero, S. I., Kamal, K., Zhu, H., & Shams, L. (in prep). Audiovisual temporal numerosity training alters multisensory integration and unisensory processing.
• Wang, A., Qian, Q., Zhu, H., Shen, L., & Chen, Q. (in prep). Neural dynamics in multisensory temporal integration: a f-MRI study

Talks & Posters

• Society for Neuroscience 2025, mini-symposium talk, San Diego, USA, 2025
• International Multisensory Research Forum, talk, Durham, UK, 2025
• International Multisensory Research Forum, workshop co-organizer, Durham, UK, 2025
• International Multisensory Research Forum, poster, Reno, USA, 2024
• Chinese Computational & Cognitive Neuroscience Conference, poster, HongKong, 2024
• UCLA Cognitive Forum, talk, USA, 2024
• The Future of Neuroscience, poster, Los Angeles, USA, 2024
• 6th Chinese Vision Science Society Conference, poster, Wenzhou, China, 2023

Honors and Rewards

• UCLA Dean Scholar Fellowship, 2024, 14,500$
• UCLA Departmental Fellowship, 2024, 25,000$