Human language seems to be uniquely human and is profoundly important to our species.  The mission of the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language lab is to learn more about the cognitive and neurophysiological underpinnings of human language. 

We are specifically interested in the neurocognition of language comprehension in fluent native speakers and in adult second language learners.  Our primary method involves recording event-related brain potentials (ERPs) from the scalp while a person reads or listens to language.  We also use the University of Washington's new, state-of-the-art neuroimaging facilities for structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)  studies.   

 

The brain image at the top of the page shows the results of a preliminary study we recently completed, examining structural changes in the brain that occur during the earliest stages of second language learning.  To learn more about this study, click here.

 

Our lab is generously funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, part of the National Institutes of Health.

 

Dept. of Psychology     Box 351525     University of Washington    Seattle, WA 98195

E-mail:  erplab@u.washington.edu     Phone:  (206) XXX-XXXX   Fax: (206) 685-3157