Research

The Brain Systems for Language Lab conducts research on the development of brain systems that support language. Our research focuses on children with typical development and children with communication disorders, specifically children who stutter. 

Our goals are to enhance our understanding of the development of neural processes that support language, including neural systems for semantics, syntax, attention, and inhibition. We aim to understand typical developmental trajectories, how these trajectories may differ in various populations, and how language and other cognitive skills interact to support language development and use. 

We also aim to understand individual variability in development and factors that may influence that variability. Through increased understanding of developmental patterns, we can develop more refined and more targeted assessment and treatment programs.

Our research uses a cognitive neuroscience approaches to address our goals, including behavioral and neurophysiological (EEG/ERP) methods. Using these techniques, we are able to track development changes in neural processes and identify ways in which some children may be diverting from typical developmental trajectories.