Staff Profile

Biography

Dr. Ricky Au obtained his BSocSc in Psychology and MPhil in Neuropsychology from the University of Hong Kong, and his PhD in Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies (Cognitive Science) from the University of Tokyo in Japan. His academic training and research interests mainly focus on using methods in experimental psychology to explore the implicit mechanisms of various human cognitive processes including perception, cognition, decision making, and emotion.

Teaching Areas & Research Interests

• Research Methods in Psychology
• Psychological Testing and Assessments
• Experimental psychology: attention, memory, perception

Academic & Professional Experience

Research Grants: The role of active and passive attentional capture in the attentional boost effect, Faculty Development Scheme (FDS) of the Competitive Research Funding Schemes for the Local Self-financing Degree Sector 2023/24, Research Grants Council (Project no.: UGC/FDS16/H29/23). (Principal Investigator)

Selected Publications

Journal Articles

• Au, R. K. C., & Tang, A. K. M. (2025). The attentional boost effect: Current landscape and future directions. Cognitive Processing.
• Hui, B., Wong, S. S. Y., & Au, R. K. C. (2022). Reading aloud listening test items to young learners: Attention, item understanding, and test performance. System, 108:102831, 1–13.
• Au, R. K. C., & Cheung, C.-N. (2020). The role of attention level in the attentional boost effect. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 32(3), 255–277.
• Au, R. K. C., & Zhu, C. (2020). Unmet need for belonging and loneliness in determining life satisfaction of Mainland Chinese new immigrants in Hong Kong. Psychologia, 62(3–4), 270–288.
• Au, R. K. C., & Tang, V. K. Y. (2019). The effect of sexual arousal and emotional arousal on working memory. Cogent Psychology, 6(1):1645260, 1–20.
• Cheung, V. H. M., Chan, C. Y., & Au, R. K. C. (2019). The influence of resilience and coping strategies on suicidal ideation among Chinese undergraduate freshmen in Hong Kong. Asia-Pacific Psychiatry, 11(2):e12339, 1–7.
• Zhang, C., Li-Tsang, C. W. P., & Au, R. K. C. (2017). Robotic approaches for the rehabilitation of upper limb recovery after stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 40(1), 19–28.
• Zhang, Y.-T., Li-Tsang, C. W. P., & Au, R. K. C. (2017). A systematic review on the effect of mechanical stretch on hypertrophic scars after burn injuries. Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy, 29, 1–9.
• Kwok, E. Y.-T., Li-Tsang, C. W. P., & Au, R. K. C. (2016). The effect of a self-management program on the quality-of-life of community-dwelling older adults with chronic musculoskeletal knee pain: A pilot randomized control trial. Clinical Gerontologist, 39(5), 428–448.
• Tang, D., Li-Tsang, C. W. P., Au, R. K. C., Shen, X., Li, K., Yi, X., Liao, L., Cao, H., Feng, Y., & Liu, C. (2016). Predictors of functional independence, quality of life and return-to-work in patients with burn injuries in China. Burns and Trauma, 4(32), 1–11.
• Tang, D., Li-Tsang, C. W. P., Au, R. K. C., Li, K., Yi, X., Liao, L., Cao, H., Feng, Y., & Liu, C. (2015). Functional outcomes of burn patients with or without rehabilitation in Mainland China. Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy, 26, 15–23.
• Au, R. K. C., & Watanabe, K. (2013). Object motion continuity and the flash-lag effect. Vision Research, 92, 19–25.
• Au, R. K. C., & Watanabe, K. (2013). Numerosity underestimation with item similarity in dynamic visual display. Journal of Vision, 13(8), 5, 1–15.
• Au, R. K. C., Ono, F., & Watanabe, K. (2013). Retrospective perceptual distortion of position representation does not lead to delayed localization. Advances in Cognitive Psychology, 9(1), 20–31.
• Au, R. K. C., Ono, F., & Watanabe, K. (2013). Spatial distortion induced by imperceptible visual stimuli. Consciousness and Cognition, 22(1), 99–110.
• Au, R. K. C., Ono, F., & Watanabe, K. (2012). Time dilation induced by object motion is based on spatiotopic but not retinotopic positions. Frontiers in Psychology, 3(58), 1–7.
• Lam, S. S. T., Au, R. K. C., Leung, H. W. H., & Li-Tsang, C. W. P. (2011). Chinese handwriting performance of primary school children with dyslexia. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 32(5), 1745–1756.
• Li-Tsang, C. W. P., Au, R. K. C., Chan, M. H. Y., Chan, L. W. L., Lau, G. M. T., Lo, T. K., & Leung, H. W. H. (2011). Handwriting characteristics among secondary students with and without physical disabilities: A study with a computerized tool. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 32(1), 207–216.
• Lee, T. M. C., Au, R. K. C., Liu, H.-L., Ting, K. H., Huang, C.-M., & Chan, C. C. H. (2009). Are errors differentiable from deceptive responses when feigning memory impairment? An fMRI study. Brain and Cognition, 69(2), 406–412.

Further Information

Link to Google Scholar page

Modified Date: 16 May, 2025
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