Research

Our research falls into two major areas. Please email us at nola-lab@umass.edu if you would like a copy of any of these presentations or publications!

1.) APHASIA DISCLOSURE AND EDUCATION

Aphasia is a language disorder caused by damage to the brain (most commonly a stroke). People with aphasia (PWA) are intellectually competent but struggle with comprehending and producing language; a common sentiment is “I know it but I can’t say it.” Fewer than 10% of people know these basic facts about aphasia. Because of this, many PWA self-disclose their aphasia and briefly explain aphasia to unfamiliar listeners. We are investigating the effects of aphasia self-disclosure, and more broadly, aphasia education, on listeners’ attitudes and linguistic expectations about speakers with aphasia. 

ONGOING RESEARCH

Aphasia ID cards and language processing. This study tested how aphasia self-disclosure using an aphasia ID card impacted linguistic expectations in non-aphasic young adult listeners. Preliminary findings: the aphasia ID card appeared to make listeners less likely to expect language errors from the speaker with aphasia.

Academy of Aphasia poster – Ward & Mack (2020)

2.) AUDITORY LANGUAGE PROCESSING USING COMBINED EYE-TRACKING/FMRI

Our lab is investigating the neural bases of auditory language processing by combining eye-tracking with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Eye-tracking can tell us when and how language processing takes place; fMRI can tell us where. By combining them we can better understand the neurocognitive signatures of auditory language processing.

COMPLETED RESEARCH

Impact of the fMRI environment on eye-tracking measures in a linguistic prediction task. In this study, two groups of young adult participants performed an auditory language comprehension task: one group in our lab and one group during fMRI scanning. We compared eye movement patterns across the two groups to see how eye-tracking data quality and predictive eye movements were affected by the MRI environment. Main findings: During fMRI scanning, eye movement data quality is mildly compromised and predictive eye movements are slightly more robust.

Language, Cognition, and Neuroscience – Mack, Ward, & Stratford (2021)

ONGOING RESEARCH

Effects of fMRI acoustic noise on auditory word recognition. This study is using eye-tracking to determine how acoustic noise produced by the fMRI scanner affects auditory word recognition. Preliminary findings: MRI acoustic noise may subtly slow auditory word recognition and increase listeners’ uncertainty about what they heard. 

Society for the Neurobiology of Language poster – Mack, Hourican, & Muñoz (2020)

Current and past collaborators:

Aphasia and Neurolinguistics Research Laboratory, Northwestern University (Cynthia K. Thompson, PhD, PI)

Brain Research on Chronic Aphasia Laboratory, UMass-Amherst (Jacquie Kurland, PhD, CCC-SLP, PI)

Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Northwestern University (M-Marsel Mesulam, MD, Director)

Human Magnetic Resonance Center, UMass-Amherst (Kwan-Jin Jung, PhD, MR Physicist; Elena Bliss, MR Technologist)

Research Funding:

We are currently supported by a pilot grant from the Human Magnetic Resonance Center at UMass-Amherst.