To advance the field of psycholinguistics and foster academic innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration in language research in the era of artificial intelligence, the 8th International Symposium of the Chinese Association for Psycholinguistics (CAP) will be held June 12-14, 2026, at Xingqing Campus of Xi’an Jiaotong University. Hosted by CAP and organized by the School of Foreign Studies, Xi’an Jiaotong University, the symposium will feature pre‑conference workshops, keynote speeches, invited talks, thematic forums, oral presentations, and poster sessions. Scholars and researchers are cordially invited to attend and submit their work.
1. Conference Theme
Psycholinguistic Research in the AI Era: Challenges and Opportunities
2. Main Topics
1) Comparative research on large language models and human language processing mechanisms
2) New paradigms and methodologies in psycholinguistic research
3) First and second language acquisition
4) Phonological, lexical, syntactic, and discourse processing
5) Bilingual language processing
6) Neurocognitive mechanisms of interpreting and translation
7) Diagnosis and intervention of language disorders
8) Language and health across the lifespan
9) Language cognition and computational research
10) Other related topics
3. Keynote Speeches, Invited Talks and Thematic Forums
a. Keynote Speeches (in alphabetical order by the speakers’ surnames)
Thomas H. Bak
University of Edinburgh, UK |
Why Languages Matter Even More in the AI Era? |
Chen Qingrong
Nanjing Normal University, China |
Neurocognitive Poetics: Neurocognitive Mechanisms of Reading Classical Chinese Poetry |
Robert J. Hartsuiker
Ghent University, Belgium |
Towards a Revised Developmental Account of Second Language Syntactic Representations |
He Wenguang
Qufu Normal University, China |
Language and Cognitive Aging: Effects and Underlying Mechanisms |
Lan Xuguang
Xi’an Jiaotong University, China |
Embodied Intelligence: Toward a New Paradigm of Human-Machine Integration |
Yang Zhang
University of Minnesota, USA |
Machine Learning in Speech and Language Research: Toward Personalized Precision Intervention and Training |
b. Invited Talks (in alphabetical order by the speakers’ surnames)
Guo Taomei
Beijing Normal University, China |
Bilingual Language Control: Cognitive Neural Mechanism and Its Plasticity |
Yan Hao
Xi’an International Studies University, China |
Neural Mechanisms of Literary Processing in the Human Brain |
Zhang Caicai The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China |
Neurocognitive Mechanisms of Developmental Language Disorders |
c. Thematic Forums
Zhang Xiaopeng
Xi’an Jiaotong University, China Cheng Bing
Xi’an Jiaotong University, China |
Forum 1
Cognitive and Computational Modeling of Language Acquisition and Processing |
Liu Jiang
University of South Carolina, USA |
Forum 2
Emotional Prosody Perception and Neural Mechanisms: Evidence Across Age Groups, Populations, and Semantic-Pragmatic Interactions |
Zhang Qingfang Renmin University of China, China Yang Xiaohu
Tongji University, China |
Forum 3
Mechanisms of Perception, Production, and Disorders in Language-Cognitive Aging |
Jiang Xiaoming
Shanghai International Studies University, China Huang Yan
East China University of Science and Technology, China |
Forum 4
Language Processing from a Social Cognitive Neuroscience Perspective |
Qiao Xiaomei
Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, China |
Forum 5
Construction and Application of Linguistic Norms in Mental Lexicon Research |
4. Pre-conference Workshops
Yang Zhang University of Minnesota, USA Zhang Xiaojuan Xi’an Jiaotong University, China |
Meta-analysis Methods and Applications in Language and Cognition Research |
Cai Zhenguang Chinese University of Hong Kong, China Duan Xufeng Chinese University of Hong Kong, China |
Using Large Language Models in Psycholinguistic Research |
5. Conference Time and Venue
Registration: June 12, 2026 (Friday) 14:00–20:00
Conference: June 13, 2026 (Saturday) 08:00–18:00
June 14, 2026 (Sunday) 08:00–12:00
Venue: Xingqing Campus, Xi’an Jiaotong University (28 Xianning West Road, Beilin District, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China)
6. Conference Website and Abstract Submission
Conference website: https://www.aconf.cn/conf_222071.html
Each author may submit (via the conference website) only one abstract as first author; there is no restriction on submissions as corresponding author. Submissions are accepted in three formats: thematic forums (closed), oral presentations, and posters.
(1) Oral presentations: Each presenter will have 20 minutes for their talk and discussion.
(2) Posters: A poster area will be provided for attendees to display their work.
Submission Instructions: For oral presentations and poster submissions, please register and submit via the conference website. In the “Submission” section, choose the appropriate category (“Oral Presentation” or “Poster”) and complete the submission form with the following information:
• Title;
• Keywords;
• Abstract (300-400 Chinese characters or 200-300 English words);
• Presenter and co-author details.
Submission deadline: March 31, 2026.
Notification of acceptance: April 30, 2026.
7. Conference Fees
Regular registration: RMB 1500 / Postgraduate students: RMB 800
Early-bird registration (before June 1, 2026): Regular: RMB 1200 / Postgraduate students: RMB 600
Online payment will open on May 1, 2026 via the conference website. Please log in to your user account (via the “User Center” link in the upper-right corner of the website), go to “my orders”, and complete payment by scanning the provided QR code.
Meals during the conference will be provided by the organizing committee. Travel and accommodation expenses are to be covered by attendees.
8. Contact Information
Email: psycholing2026@126.com
Contact person: Ms. Zhang
Tel: 86-29-82668539 /86-029-82663712 /86-13636704483
Conference updates will also be available at:
The Chinese Association for Psycholinguistics
http://www.psycholingchina.com
School of Foreign Studies, Xi'an Jiaotong University
https://sfs.xjtu.edu.cn
The Chinese Association for Psycholinguistics
School of Foreign Studies, Xi’an Jiaotong University
March 26, 2026
