Cognitive Neuropsychology Laboratory
Aphasia is a general
term for the loss of ability to understand or express speech. It may
result from stroke, trauma, neurodegenerative disease (such as
Alzheimer's), or any other condition that causes brain damage.
People with aphasia present with a wide variety of impairments, ranging from very mild difficulties in pronouncing words to a profound inability to produce or comprehend different categories of words. By studying the ways in which the language system breaks down on a case-by-case basis, we can make inferences about the structure of the intact system and the kinds of representations that constitute it at the levels of semantics (meaning), morphosyntax (grammatical function), phonology (sound), and orthography (written form). Previous studies have described dissociations in access to names of living things and artifacts, nouns and verbs, and consonants and vowels.
Currently we are interested in studying people with aphasia whose first language is English, Spanish, Russian or Chinese. To read our brochure in any one of these languages, click on the appropriate link below:
EnglishSpanish
Russian
Chinese
While some of the findings from our studies may eventually be relevant to the treatment of aphasia, the Cognitive Neuropsychology Laboratory is not directly involved in speech therapy or remediation. However, several excellent resources exist for people with aphasia and their families.
Boston Area Aphasia Community Group