Darren J.
Yeo
Ph.D. Candidate | Neuroscience

About Me

I am broadly interested in understanding how the brain supports learning and to use that knowledge to help students learn how to optimize their learning. My current focus is on the acquisition of basic numerical knowledge and complex math skills. Aside from research, I write math curricular materials, and am an author of Grade 1 and 2 books of the forthcoming 2021 U.S. edition of Primary Mathematics (the original “Singapore Math®” series).

Contact information

Education

year what
2016 — Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University
Advisor: Gavin R. Price, Ph.D.
2014 — 2016 M.Ed. in Child Studies, Vanderbilt University
2009 — 2010 PGDE in Primary Education, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University
2005 — 2009 B. Soc. Sci. in Psychology, Second Class Honours (Upper), National University of Singapore
Semester abroad: University of California Irvine
Honors Thesis: The synchronizing influence of task-irrelevant auditory rhythm on visual processing speed: An exploratory analysis of behavioral markers

Professional

year what
2016 — Teaching Assistant (on study leave till Summer 2021), School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University.
2013 — Freelance math curriculum contributor, Marshall Cavendish Education. Commissioned titles include: My Pals Are Here! Mathematics Series: Primary 2 (3rd Edition, 2014) Teacher’s Planning Guide, Primary 3 (3rd Edition, 2015) Teacher’s Planning Guide, Primary 4 (3rd Edition, 2016) Textbook, Workbook, Teacher’s Planning Guide, Primary 6 (3rd Edition, 2018) Textbook and Workbook; Primary Mathematics (US Common Core Edition, 2014) – Grades 3 and 4 Textbooks, Workbooks and Teacher’s Guides; My Math Path (Ontario, Canada) – Reteach Books Grades 1 – 3.
2013 — 2014 Lead tutor, Edufront Learning Centre, Singapore.
Mathematics coach, Oodles Learning and OnSponge Pte Ltd, Singapore.
2010 — 2013 Public elementary school teacher, Government of Singapore Ministry of Education.

Scholarship

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Google Scholar metrics as of 2020-03-19: Total citations: 200 h-index: 6 i10-index: 4

Peer-Reviewed Publications

year count cites
2020 12. Yeo, D. J., Pollack, C., Merkley, R., Ansari, D., & Price, G. R. (2020). The “Inferior Temporal Numeral Area” distinguishes numerals from other character categories during passive viewing: A representational similarity analysis. NeuroImage, 213, 116716. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116716
11. Yeo, D. J., & Price, G. R. (2020). Probing the associative mechanism of numerosity-to-numeral mappings and its relation to math competence. Psychological Research, doi: 10.1007/s00426-020-01299-z
2019 10. Yeo, D. J., Wilkey, E. D., & Price, G. R. (2019). Malleability of mappings between Arabic numerals and approximate quantities: Factors underlying individual differences and the relation to math. Acta Psychologica, 198, 102877. doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2019.102877
9. Cheong, K. H., Koh, J. M., Yeo, D. J., Tan, Z. X., Boo, O. E. B., & Lee, G. Y. (2019). Paradoxical Simulations to Enhance Education in Mathematics. IEEE Access, 7, 17941–17950. doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2892742
8. Yeo, D. J., & Fazio, L. K. (2019). The optimal learning strategy depends on learning goals and processes: Retrieval practice versus worked examples. Journal of Educational Psychology, 111(1), 73–90. doi: 10.1037/edu0000268
2018 7. Price, G. R., Yeo, D. J., Wilkey, E. D., & Cutting, L. E. (2018). Prospective relations between resting-state connectivity of parietal subdivisions and arithmetic competence. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 30, 280–290. doi: 10.1016/j.dcn.2017.02.006
2017 6. Yeo, D. J., Wilkey, E. D., & Price, G. R. (2017). The search for the number form area: A functional neuroimaging meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 78, 145–160. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.04.027
5. Price, G. R., Wilkey, E. D., & Yeo, D. J. (2017). Eye-movement patterns during numerical magnitude comparison and their relation to math calculation skills. Acta Psychologica, 176, 47–57. doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2017.03.012
2016 4. Price, G. R., Wilkey, E. D., Yeo, D. J., & Cutting, L. E. (2016). The relation between 1st grade grey matter volume and 2nd grade math competence. NeuroImage, 124, 232–237. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.08.046

year count cites
2014 3. Lee, N. H., Yeo, D. J., & Hong, S. E. (2014). A metacognitive-based instruction for Primary Four studentsto approach non-routine mathematical word problems. ZDM Mathematics Education, 46, 465–480. doi: 10.1007/s11858-014-0599-6
2010 2. Escoffier, N., Yeo, D. J., & Schirmer, A. (2010). Unattended musical beats enhance visual processing. Acta Psychologica, 135(1), 12–16. doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2010.04.005
2008 1. Yeo, D. J. (2008). The “multiple choice question” of 21st century education: Can “choice” keep the meritocratic dream alive in United States and Singapore?. PRISM: The USP Undergraduate Journal, 1(1), 49–56.

Manuscripts Under Review for Publication

count cites
1. Conrad, B., Wilkey, E. D., Yeo, D. J., & Price, G. R. (under revision). Network topology of symbolic and nonsymbolic number comparison.

Books/Book Chapters

year count cites
2021 5. Yeo, D. J. (forthcoming). Primary Mathematics (2021 Edition) Student Book 1A. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Education.
4. Yeo, D. J. (forthcoming). Primary Mathematics (2021 Edition) Student Book 1B. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Education.
3. Yeo, D. J. (forthcoming). Primary Mathematics (2021 Edition) Student Book 2A. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Education.
2014 2. Leong, Y. H., Tay, E. G., Quek, K. S., Yap, S. F., Lee, H.T.C., Tong, C. L., Toh, W. Y. K., Xie, X. R., & Yeo, D. J. (2014). MProVE: Negative Numbers. Singapore: National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University.
1. Leong, Y. H., Tay, E. G., Quek, K. S., Yap, S. F., Tong, C. L., Toh, W. Y. K., Xie, X. R., & Yeo, D. J. (2014). MProVE: Number Patterns. Singapore: National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University.

National & International Conference Presentations

year count cites
2020 19. Yeo, D. J., Pollack, C., Ansari, D., & Price, G. R. (June, 2020). Representational distinction of numbers, letters, and novel characters in the “number form area”. Poster selected to be presented at the cancelled annual meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Montreal, QC, Canada.


year count cites
18. Yeo, D. J., Pollack, C., Ansari, D., & Price, G. R. (May, 2020). “Number form area” distinguishes between numerals and other character categories during passive viewing: A meta-synthesis of representational similarity analyses with three studies. Talk selected to be presented at the cancelled annual meeting of the Vision Sciences Society, St. Pete Beach, FL, USA.
2019 17. Yeo, D. J., & Price, G. R. (June, 2019). Individual and developmental differences in the neurocognitive integration of number notations and their relation to math competence. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Mathematical Cognition and Learning Society, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
16. Yeo, D. J. (January, 2019). What do numerical tasks measure? Insights from calibration paradigms. Talk presented at the 1st Methods in Numerical Cognition Workshop,Budapest, Hungary.
2018 15. Yeo, D. J., Pollack, C., Ansari, D., & Price, G. R. (November, 2018). A search for the representational content in the putative number form area. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, USA.
14. Yeo, D. J., & Price, G. R. (September, 2018). Probing the associative mechanism of numerosity-to-numeral mappings and its relation to math competence. Poster presented at the International Mind, Brain, & Education Society, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
13. Yeo, D. J., Wilkey, E. D., & Price, G. R. (June, 2018). Malleability of mapping between Arabic numerals and approximate quantities: Factors underlying individual differences and the relation to math. Poster presented at the Mathematics Education Centre’s 3rd annual symposium: The symbol grounding problem, Loughborough, UK.
12. Yeo, D. J., Pollack, C., & Price, G. R. (March, 2018). A search for the representational content in the putative number form area. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society, Boston, MA, USA.
2017 11. Fazio, L. K. & Yeo, D. J. (November, 2017). The optimal learning strategy depends on learning goals and processes: Repeated testing versus repeated studying. Talk presented at the annual meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Chicago, IL, USA.
10. Yeo, D. J., Wilkey, E. D., & Price, G. R. (June, 2017). An ALE meta-analytical search for the putative number form area and its associated network. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
9. Yeo, D. J., & Fazio, L. K. (May, 2017). The optimal learning strategy depends on learning goals and processes: Repeated testing versus repeated studying. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, Boston, MA, USA.


year count cites
8. Yeo, D. J., Wilkey, E. D., & Price, G. R. (March, 2017). The search for the putative number form area: A meta-analysis. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society, San Francisco, CA, USA.
2016 7. Yeo, D. J., Wilkey, E. D., & Price, G. R. (September, 2016). The role of numerical estimation flexibility in mathematical competence. Poster presented at the International Mind, Brain, & Education Society, Toronto, ON, Canada.
6. Hong, M., Yeo, D. J., Rittle-Johnson, B., Fazio, L. K. (August, 2016). Are there hidden costs to teaching mathematics with incorrect examples?. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
5. Yeo, D. J., Wilkey, E. D., & Price, G. R. (May, 2016). Eye movement patterns underlying symbolic and nonsymbolic numerical magnitude comparison. Poster presented at the 4th NIH Math Cognition Conference, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
2015 4. Yeo, D. J., Koedinger, K. R., & Fazio, L. K. (November, 2015). Retrieval practice vs. worked examples: Matching learning strategies to learning goals. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Chicago, IL, USA.
3. Price, G. R., Wilkey, E. D., Yeo, D. J., & Cutting, L. (October, 2015). Resting state connectivity at 1st grade predicts math competence at 2nd grade. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, IL, USA.
2012 2. Hong, S.E., Lee, N.H., &, Yeo, D. J. (July, 2012). Metacognitive approach in kick-starting the understanding and planning phases of mathematical problem solving. Talk presented at the annual meeting of the International Congress on Mathematical Education, Seoul, Korea.
2010 1. Escoffier, N., Yeo, D. J., & Schirmer, A. (August, 2010). Unattended “silent” beats enhance visual processing. Poster presented at the International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition, Seattle, WA, USA.

Regional Conference Presentations

year count cites
2019 4. Yeo, D. J., Pollack, C., Ansari, D., & Price, G. R. (September, 2019). A search for the representational content in the putative number form area. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s 2019 Science Day, Nashville, TN, USA.
3. Yeo, D. J., Pollack, C., Ansari, D., & Price, G. R. (August, 2019). A search for the representational content in the putative number form area. Poster presented at the Singaporean Researchers Global Summit, Singapore, Singapore.


year count cites
2016 2. Yeo, D. J., Wilkey, E. D., & Price, G. R. (September, 2016). The role of numerical estimation flexibility in mathematical competence. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s 2016 Science Day, Nashville, TN, USA.
2012 1. Yeo, D. J., Hong, S. E., Parthiben, M., Amalina Bte Batcha Sahib, & Kam, C. L. (June, 2012). Metacognitive approach in kick-starting the understanding and planning phases of mathematical problem solving. Poster presented at the 6th Teachers’ Conference, Singapore, Singapore.

Grants

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Completed projects

count cite
1. Ignite4! School-based Curriculum Research Grant: Metacognitive Approach In Kick-starting The Understanding and Planning Phases Of Mathematical Problem Solving. January 2011 to December 2012. Total budget: $10,000 SGD. Role: Project leader. FTE: 0.40.

Teaching

Guest-Lecturing

order course
1. Introduction to Educational Neuroscience (Undergraduate) [Topic: Reading and Dyslexia]. (Spring, 2019).
2. Introduction to Educational Neuroscience (Undergraduate) [Topic: Reading and Dyslexia]. (Fall, 2018).
3. Introduction to Educational Neuroscience (Undergraduate) [Topic: Reading and Dyslexia]. (Spring, 2018).

Teaching Assistantship

order course
1. Computation Neuroscience (Undergraduate & Graduate) [Assignment grader]. (Spring, 2020).
2. Introduction to Statistical Analysis (Undergraduate) [Led two tutorial sections each week]. (Spring, 2016).
3. Statistical Inference (Graduate) [Assignment grader]. (Fall, 2015).
4. Introduction to Statistical Analysis (Undergraduate) [Led two tutorial sections each week]. (Spring, 2015).

Additional Training

training
Connectivity course: Structural and functional brain connectivity via MRI and fMRI (2017). Athinoula A Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Boston, MA

Professional Service

Mentoring

count cite
1. Olivia Lasala (undergraduate honors student in psychology). (Fall 2017-Spring 2018). Vanderbilt University.

Peer-Reviewing

I have served as an ad-hoc reviewer for the following journals and grants/awards:

jou1 jou2
Association for Psychological Science Student Caucus’ Student Grant Competition Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition
Association for Psychological Science Student Research Award Journal of Neuroscience
Brain Imaging and Behavior NeuroImage
Child Development NeuroImage Clinical
Developmental Science Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ZDM Mathematics Education


Awards & Honors

year what
2018 7th Latin American School for Education, Cognitive and Neural Sciences Fellowship, Santiago, Chile. Fellowship for tuition, room, and board.
2017 — 2021 Peabody Dean’s Fellowship, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University.
2016 — 2019 Graduate School Travel Grant, Vanderbilt University.
2016 — 2021 Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences International PhD Scholarship, Nanyang Technological University and Government of Singapore (Ministry of Education).
2016 — 2021 Peabody Graduate Honors Scholarship, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University. Declined.
2016 Math Cognition Conference Invited Participant, National Institutes of Health, United States. Travel Award.
2014 — 2016 Dean’s Tuition Scholarship, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University.
2012 Mee Toh School Inspiring Teacher Award, Mee Toh School, Singapore.
2012 Mee Toh School Outstanding Contribution Award (Team) for School-based Curriculum Innovation, Mee Toh School, Singapore.
2008 University Scholars Program Senior Honor Roll, National University of Singapore.
2007 Dean’s Honor List, University of California Irvine.
2007 Overseas Exchange Program Grant, Government of Singapore (Ministry of Education) and National University of Singapore.
2007 Travel Grant for University Scholars Program-Stanford University Summer Research Program, Government of Singapore (Ministry of Education).
2006 Dean’s List, National University of Singapore.
2006 — 2009 Full Undergraduate Scholarship (Teaching Award), Government of Singapore (Ministry of Education).
2005 — 2009 University Scholar, National University of Singapore.
2005 Undergraduate Bursary Award, National University of Singapore.