BRoCA Lab Research

Recently funded test development study:

NIH/NIDCD GRANT (1 R21 DC020265-01): (“Phase III Development of a Valid, Reliable, Clinically Feasible Measure of Transactional Success in Aphasic Conversation: Modernizing Methods of Acquisition and Analysis of Discourse Data”)

This award has two major goals:

1) To demonstrate the reliability of the “Brief Assessment of Transactional Success” in conversation in aphasia (BATS) and its validity in assessing transactional success; and 2) To advance state-of-the-art study of discourse in aphasia.

To participate in this study (either as a person with aphasia, or a non-aphasic conversation partner), contact:

Polly Stokes, M.S., CCC-SLP

BRoCA Lab Research SLP / Lab Manager

(413) 658-5905

pestokes@umass.edu

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The BRoCA Lab goals include:

• developing a test of communication success in aphasia
• understanding mechanisms supporting brain reorganization in poststroke aphasia
• investigating the effects of treatment variables on neuroplasticity
• examining individual differences in stroke recovery, including factors such as bilingualism
• examining individual differences and effects of age, gender, and handedness on language behaviors in healthy, non-brain damaged individuals
• promoting functional independence and improved quality of life for individuals with neurogenic communication disorders and their families
• developing a test of transactional success in conversation using natural language processing to analyze discourse