Overview
Background
I am a cognitive neuroscientist with a research focus on the neural basis of language. My research is focused on three related questions:
- How is language processed in the brain?
- How does brain damage affect language processing in individuals with aphasia, i.e. acquired language disorders?
- What brain mechanisms support the recovery of language processing in people with aphasia who improve over time?
To address these questions, my lab studies individuals with aphasia, as well as healthy participants with normal language, using a range of state-of-the-art functional and structural neuroimaging techniques. We combine our multimodal imaging approach with comprehensive language assessments designed to quantify deficits in different components of the language processing system, such as syntactic structure, word meanings, and the selection and assembly of speech sounds.
Availability
- Associate Professor Stephen Wilson is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Research interests
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Aphasia
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Language and the brain
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Cognitive neuroscience
Works
Search Professor Stephen Wilson’s works on UQ eSpace
2019
Journal Article
Language mapping in aphasia
Wilson, Stephen M., Eriksson, Dana K., Yen, Melodie, Demarco, Andrew T., Schneck, Sarah M. and Lucanie, Jillian M. (2019). Language mapping in aphasia. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 62 (11), 3937-3946. doi: 10.1044/2019_JSLHR-L-RSNP-19-0031
2019
Journal Article
Multivariate approaches to understanding aphasia and its neural substrates
Wilson, Stephen M and Hula, William D (2019). Multivariate approaches to understanding aphasia and its neural substrates. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports, 19 (8) 53, 1-9. doi: 10.1007/s11910-019-0971-6
2019
Journal Article
Auditory-perceptual rating of connected speech in aphasia
Casilio, Marianne, Rising, Kindle, Beeson, Pélagie M., Bunton, Kate and Wilson, Stephen M. (2019). Auditory-perceptual rating of connected speech in aphasia. American Journal of Speech - Language Pathology, 28 (2), 550-568. doi: 10.1044/2018_AJSLP-18-0192
2019
Journal Article
Adaptive paradigms for mapping phonological regions in individual participants
Yen, Melodie, DeMarco, Andrew T. and Wilson, Stephen M. (2019). Adaptive paradigms for mapping phonological regions in individual participants. NeuroImage, 189, 368-379. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.01.040
2019
Journal Article
Differential intrinsic functional connectivity changes in semantic variant primary progressive aphasia
Battistella, Giovanni, Henry, Maya, Gesierich, Benno, Wilson, Stephen M., Borghesani, Valentina, Shwe, Wendy, Miller, Zachary, Deleon, Jessica, Miller, Bruce L., Jovicich, Jorge, Papinutto, Nico, Dronkers, Nina F., Seeley, William W., Mandelli, Maria Luisa and Gorno-Tempini, Maria Luisa (2019). Differential intrinsic functional connectivity changes in semantic variant primary progressive aphasia. NeuroImage. Clinical, 22 101797, 101797. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101797
2019
Journal Article
Patterns of recovery from aphasia in the first 2 weeks after stroke
Wilson, Stephen M., Eriksson, Dana K., Brandt, Temre H., Schneck, Sarah M., Lucanie, Jillian M., Burchfield, Annie S., Charney, Sara, Quillen, Ian A., de Riesthal, Michael, Kirshner, Howard S., Beeson, Pélagie M., Ritter, Leslie and Kidwell, Chelsea S. (2019). Patterns of recovery from aphasia in the first 2 weeks after stroke. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 62 (3), 723-732. doi: 10.1044/2018_JSLHR-L-18-0254
2018
Journal Article
Neural representation of vowel formants in tonotopic auditory cortex
Fisher, Julia M., Dick, Frederic K., Levy, Deborah F. and Wilson, Stephen M. (2018). Neural representation of vowel formants in tonotopic auditory cortex. NeuroImage, 178, 574-582. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.05.072
2018
Journal Article
An adaptive semantic matching paradigm for reliable and valid language mapping in individuals with aphasia
Wilson, Stephen M, Yen, Melodie and Eriksson, Dana K (2018). An adaptive semantic matching paradigm for reliable and valid language mapping in individuals with aphasia. Human Brain Mapping, 39 (8), 3285-3307. doi: 10.1002/hbm.24077
2018
Journal Article
Retraining speech production and fluency in non-fluent/agrammatic primary progressive aphasia
Henry, Maya L., Hubbard, H. Isabel, Grasso, Stephanie M., Mandelli, Maria Luisa, Wilson, Stephen M., Sathishkumar, Mithra T., Fridriksson, Julius, Daigle, Wylin, Boxer, Adam L., Miller, Bruce L. and Gorno-Tempini, Maria Luisa (2018). Retraining speech production and fluency in non-fluent/agrammatic primary progressive aphasia. Brain, 141 (6), 1799-1814. doi: 10.1093/brain/awy101
2018
Journal Article
Convergence of spoken and written language processing in the superior temporal sulcus
Wilson, Stephen M, Bautista, Alexa and McCarron, Angelica (2018). Convergence of spoken and written language processing in the superior temporal sulcus. NeuroImage, 171, 62-74. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.12.068
2018
Journal Article
Selective interference with syntactic encoding during sentence production by direct electrocortical stimulation of the inferior frontal gyrus
Chang, Edward F., Kurteff, Garret and Wilson, Stephen M. (2018). Selective interference with syntactic encoding during sentence production by direct electrocortical stimulation of the inferior frontal gyrus. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 30 (3), 411-420. doi: 10.1162/jocn_a_01215
2018
Journal Article
A quick aphasia battery for efficient, reliable, and multidimensional assessment of language function
Wilson, Stephen M., Eriksson, Dana K., Schneck, Sarah M. and Lucanie, Jillian M. (2018). A quick aphasia battery for efficient, reliable, and multidimensional assessment of language function. PLoS One, 13 (2) e0192773, e0192773. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192773
2018
Journal Article
The neural substrates of improved phonological processing following successful treatment in a case of phonological alexia and agraphia
DeMarco, Andrew T., Wilson, Stephen M., Rising, Kindle, Rapcsak, Steven Z. and Beeson, Pélagie M. (2018). The neural substrates of improved phonological processing following successful treatment in a case of phonological alexia and agraphia. Neurocase, 24 (1), 31-40. doi: 10.1080/13554794.2018.1428352
2017
Journal Article
Lexical access in semantic variant PPA: evidence for a post-semantic contribution to naming deficits
Wilson, Stephen M., Dehollain, Charlotte, Ferrieux, Sophie, Christensen, Laura E. H. and Teichmann, Marc (2017). Lexical access in semantic variant PPA: evidence for a post-semantic contribution to naming deficits. Neuropsychologia, 106, 90-99. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2017.08.032
2017
Journal Article
Emotion detection deficits and changes in personality traits linked to loss of white matter integrity in primary progressive aphasia
Multani, Namita, Galantucci, Sebastiano, Wilson, Stephen M., Shany-Ur, Tal, Poorzand, Pardis, Growdon, Matthew E., Jang, Jung Yun, Kramer, Joel H., Miller, Bruce L., Rankin, Katherine P., Gorno-Tempini, Maria Luisa and Tartaglia, Maria Carmela (2017). Emotion detection deficits and changes in personality traits linked to loss of white matter integrity in primary progressive aphasia. NeuroImage: Clinical, 16, 447-454. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2017.08.020
2017
Journal Article
Characterizing articulation in apraxic speech using real-time magnetic resonance imaging
Hagedorn, Christina, Proctor, Michael, Goldstein, Louis, Wilson, Stephen M., Miller, Bruce, Gorno-Tempini, Maria Luisa and Narayanan, Shrikanth S. (2017). Characterizing articulation in apraxic speech using real-time magnetic resonance imaging. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 60 (4), 877-891. doi: 10.1044/2016_JSLHR-S-15-0112
2017
Journal Article
Typical and atypical pathology in primary progressive aphasia variants
Spinelli, Edoardo G., Mandelli, Maria Luisa, Miller, Zachary A., Santos-Santos, Miguel A., Wilson, Stephen M., Agosta, Federica, Grinberg, Lea T, Huang, Eric J, Trojanowski, John Q, Meyer, Marita, Henry, Maya L, Comi, Giancarlo, Rabinovici, Gil, Rosen, Howard J, Filippi, Massimo, Miller, Bruce L, Seeley, William W and Gorno-Tempini, Maria Luisa (2017). Typical and atypical pathology in primary progressive aphasia variants. Annals of Neurology, 81 (3), 430-443. doi: 10.1002/ana.24885
2017
Journal Article
Connected speech in transient aphasias after left hemisphere resective surgery
McCarron, Angelica, Chavez, Ashley, Babiak, Miranda, Berger, Mitchel S., Chang, Edward F. and Wilson, Stephen M. (2017). Connected speech in transient aphasias after left hemisphere resective surgery. Aphasiology, 31 (11), 1266-1281. doi: 10.1080/02687038.2017.1278740
2017
Journal Article
Neural substrates of sublexical processing for spelling
DeMarco, Andrew T., Wilson, Stephen M., Rising, Kindle, Rapcsak, Steven Z. and Beeson, Pélagie M. (2017). Neural substrates of sublexical processing for spelling. Brain and Language, 164, 118-128. doi: 10.1016/j.bandl.2016.10.001
2016
Journal Article
Variable disruption of a syntactic processing network in primary progressive aphasia
Wilson, Stephen M., DeMarco, Andrew T., Henry, Maya L., Gesierich, Benno, Babiak, Miranda, Miller, Bruce L. and Gorno-Tempini, Maria Luisa (2016). Variable disruption of a syntactic processing network in primary progressive aphasia. Brain, 139 (11), 2994-3006. doi: 10.1093/brain/aww218
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Stephen Wilson is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Neural correlates of recovery from aphasia after stroke
Aphasia is one of the most common and debilitating consequences of stroke. Aphasia is caused by damage to language regions of the brain, which are usually localized to the left hemisphere. Fortunately, most individuals with aphasia after a stroke experience some degree of recovery of language function over time. The pace of recovery is greatest in the first weeks and months, but clinically meaningful gains in language function are possible even years after stroke. Recovery from aphasia is thought to depend on neural plasticity, that is, functional reorganization of surviving brain regions such that they take on new or expanded roles in language processing. However, despite much research, the mechanisms that underlie this process of functional reorganization remain poorly understood. The overall goals of this project are to better characterize the neural correlates of recovery from aphasia after stroke, and to determine which patterns of functional reorganization are associated with more versus less favorable language outcomes. This project involves a range of innovative methodologies including functional MRI with adaptive language mapping, comprehensive language assessments designed to quantify deficits in different components of the language processing system, and advanced machine learning algorithms to disentangle complex relationships between structural damage, neurofunctional changes, and language outcomes. A better understanding of the biological mechanisms that underlie recovery from aphasia will improve the clinical management of individuals with aphasia.
-
Language and the brain
I am interested in advising students on any and all projects related to language and the brain. This includes language processing in neurologically normal individuals, as well as research with individuals with aphasia (acquired language deficits due to neurological damage). Please visit our lab website to learn more about our research program.
-
A universal aphasia battery for assessing language disorders in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who speak traditional languages and creoles
Aphasia is an acquired language disorder resulting from injury to language areas of the brain, and is a common and debilitating consequence of stroke. Optimal management and treatment of aphasia depends first on carrying out a comprehensive and accurate assessment of the nature and severity of the aphasia. It is essential to determine which language domains are impaired or spared (e.g., word finding, expressive syntax, receptive syntax, etc.) so that interventions can be targeted to the needs of the individual. There are several widely used batteries of tests for aphasia assessment in English and other European languages, but there are presently no validated aphasia batteries in most of the languages of the world. In particular, there are no aphasia batteries in any of the traditional languages or creoles spoken by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The goal of this project is to create a “universal” aphasia battery and to “instantiate” it in several traditional languages and creoles. For the battery to be “universal” means that its items will not make reference to specific word forms (e.g., “name a stethoscope”) but will instead be defined in terms of linguistic properties (e.g., “name a low-frequency man-made item with a phonologically complex 3-syllable name”). This structure will enable the battery to be instantiated faithfully in any language or dialect, rather than being translated or adapted from a source language. We will develop specific items to create aphasia batteries in Kalaw Kawaw Ya, Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole), Pintupi-Luritja, Pitjantjatjara, Warlpiri, NT Kriol, Aboriginal English, and standard Australian English. This work will result in validated aphasia batteries ready for clinical use in several widely spoken traditional languages and creoles, as well as a foundation for development of aphasia batteries in other Indigenous languages of Australia and other community languages spoken in Australia and across the world.
-
Neural correlates of recovery from aphasia after stroke
Aphasia is one of the most common and debilitating consequences of stroke. Aphasia is caused by damage to language regions of the brain, which are usually localized to the left hemisphere. Fortunately, most individuals with aphasia after a stroke experience some degree of recovery of language function over time. The pace of recovery is greatest in the first weeks and months, but clinically meaningful gains in language function are possible even years after stroke. Recovery from aphasia is thought to depend on neural plasticity, that is, functional reorganization of surviving brain regions such that they take on new or expanded roles in language processing. However, despite much research, the mechanisms that underlie this process of functional reorganization remain poorly understood. The overall goals of this project are to better characterize the neural correlates of recovery from aphasia after stroke, and to determine which patterns of functional reorganization are associated with more versus less favorable language outcomes. This project involves a range of innovative methodologies including functional MRI with adaptive language mapping, comprehensive language assessments designed to quantify deficits in different components of the language processing system, and advanced machine learning algorithms to disentangle complex relationships between structural damage, neurofunctional changes, and language outcomes. A better understanding of the biological mechanisms that underlie recovery from aphasia will improve the clinical management of individuals with aphasia.
-
Language and the brain
I am interested in advising students on any and all projects related to language and the brain. This includes research with individuals with aphasia (acquired language deficits due to neurological damage) as well as language processing in neurologically normal individuals. Please visit our lab website to learn more about our research program.
-
A universal aphasia battery for assessing language disorders in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who speak traditional languages and creoles
Aphasia is an acquired language disorder resulting from injury to language areas of the brain, and is a common and debilitating consequence of stroke. Optimal management and treatment of aphasia depends first on carrying out a comprehensive and accurate assessment of the nature and severity of the aphasia. It is essential to determine which language domains are impaired or spared (e.g., word finding, expressive syntax, receptive syntax, etc.) so that interventions can be targeted to the needs of the individual. There are several widely used batteries of tests for aphasia assessment in English and other European languages, but there are presently no validated aphasia batteries in most of the languages of the world. In particular, there are no aphasia batteries in any of the traditional languages or creoles spoken by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The goal of this project is to create a “universal” aphasia battery and to “instantiate” it in several traditional languages and creoles. For the battery to be “universal” means that its items will not make reference to specific word forms (e.g., “name a stethoscope”) but will instead be defined in terms of linguistic properties (e.g., “name a low-frequency man-made item with a phonologically complex 3-syllable name”). This structure will enable the battery to be instantiated faithfully in any language or dialect, rather than being translated or adapted from a source language. We will develop specific items to create aphasia batteries in Kalaw Kawaw Ya, Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole), Pintupi-Luritja, Pitjantjatjara, Warlpiri, NT Kriol, Aboriginal English, and standard Australian English. This work will result in validated aphasia batteries ready for clinical use in several widely spoken traditional languages and creoles, as well as a foundation for development of aphasia batteries in other Indigenous languages of Australia and other community languages spoken in Australia and across the world.
-
Neural correlates of recovery from aphasia after stroke
Aphasia is one of the most common and debilitating consequences of stroke. Aphasia is caused by damage to language regions of the brain, which are usually localized to the left hemisphere. Fortunately, most individuals with aphasia after a stroke experience some degree of recovery of language function over time. The pace of recovery is greatest in the first weeks and months, but clinically meaningful gains in language function are possible even years after stroke. Recovery from aphasia is thought to depend on neural plasticity, that is, functional reorganization of surviving brain regions such that they take on new or expanded roles in language processing. However, despite much research, the mechanisms that underlie this process of functional reorganization remain poorly understood. The overall goals of this project are to better characterize the neural correlates of recovery from aphasia after stroke, and to determine which patterns of functional reorganization are associated with more versus less favorable language outcomes. This project involves a range of innovative methodologies including functional MRI with adaptive language mapping, comprehensive language assessments designed to quantify deficits in different components of the language processing system, and advanced machine learning algorithms to disentangle complex relationships between structural damage, neurofunctional changes, and language outcomes. A better understanding of the biological mechanisms that underlie recovery from aphasia will improve the clinical management of individuals with aphasia.
-
Language and the brain
I am interested in advising students on any and all projects related to language and the brain. This includes research with individuals with aphasia (acquired language deficits due to neurological damage) as well as language processing in neurologically normal individuals. Please visit our lab website to learn more about our research program.
-
A universal aphasia battery for assessing language disorders in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who speak traditional languages and creoles
Aphasia is an acquired language disorder resulting from injury to language areas of the brain, and is a common and debilitating consequence of stroke. Optimal management and treatment of aphasia depends first on carrying out a comprehensive and accurate assessment of the nature and severity of the aphasia. It is essential to determine which language domains are impaired or spared (e.g., word finding, expressive syntax, receptive syntax, etc.) so that interventions can be targeted to the needs of the individual. There are several widely used batteries of tests for aphasia assessment in English and other European languages, but there are presently no validated aphasia batteries in most of the languages of the world. In particular, there are no aphasia batteries in any of the traditional languages or creoles spoken by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The goal of this project is to create a “universal” aphasia battery and to “instantiate” it in several traditional languages and creoles. For the battery to be “universal” means that its items will not make reference to specific word forms (e.g., “name a stethoscope”) but will instead be defined in terms of linguistic properties (e.g., “name a low-frequency man-made item with a phonologically complex 3-syllable name”). This structure will enable the battery to be instantiated faithfully in any language or dialect, rather than being translated or adapted from a source language. We will develop specific items to create aphasia batteries in Kalaw Kawaw Ya, Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole), Pintupi-Luritja, Pitjantjatjara, Warlpiri, NT Kriol, Aboriginal English, and standard Australian English. This work will result in validated aphasia batteries ready for clinical use in several widely spoken traditional languages and creoles, as well as a foundation for development of aphasia batteries in other Indigenous languages of Australia and other community languages spoken in Australia and across the world.
-
Neural correlates of recovery from aphasia after stroke
Aphasia is one of the most common and debilitating consequences of stroke. Aphasia is caused by damage to language regions of the brain, which are usually localized to the left hemisphere. Fortunately, most individuals with aphasia after a stroke experience some degree of recovery of language function over time. The pace of recovery is greatest in the first weeks and months, but clinically meaningful gains in language function are possible even years after stroke. Recovery from aphasia is thought to depend on neural plasticity, that is, functional reorganization of surviving brain regions such that they take on new or expanded roles in language processing. However, despite much research, the mechanisms that underlie this process of functional reorganization remain poorly understood. The overall goals of this project are to better characterize the neural correlates of recovery from aphasia after stroke, and to determine which patterns of functional reorganization are associated with more versus less favorable language outcomes. This project involves a range of innovative methodologies including functional MRI with adaptive language mapping, comprehensive language assessments designed to quantify deficits in different components of the language processing system, and advanced machine learning algorithms to disentangle complex relationships between structural damage, neurofunctional changes, and language outcomes. A better understanding of the biological mechanisms that underlie recovery from aphasia will improve the clinical management of individuals with aphasia.
-
Language and the brain
I am interested in advising students on any and all projects related to language and the brain. This includes research with individuals with aphasia (acquired language deficits due to neurological damage) as well as language processing in neurologically normal individuals. Please visit our lab website to learn more about our research program.
-
Neural correlates of recovery from aphasia after stroke
Aphasia is one of the most common and debilitating consequences of stroke. Aphasia is caused by damage to language regions of the brain, which are usually localized to the left hemisphere. Fortunately, most individuals with aphasia after a stroke experience some degree of recovery of language function over time. The pace of recovery is greatest in the first weeks and months, but clinically meaningful gains in language function are possible even years after stroke. Recovery from aphasia is thought to depend on neural plasticity, that is, functional reorganization of surviving brain regions such that they take on new or expanded roles in language processing. However, despite much research, the mechanisms that underlie this process of functional reorganization remain poorly understood. The overall goals of this project are to better characterize the neural correlates of recovery from aphasia after stroke, and to determine which patterns of functional reorganization are associated with more versus less favorable language outcomes. This project involves a range of innovative methodologies including functional MRI with adaptive language mapping, comprehensive language assessments designed to quantify deficits in different components of the language processing system, and advanced machine learning algorithms to disentangle complex relationships between structural damage, neurofunctional changes, and language outcomes. A better understanding of the biological mechanisms that underlie recovery from aphasia will improve the clinical management of individuals with aphasia.
-
Language and the brain
I am interested in advising students on any and all projects related to language and the brain. This includes research with individuals with aphasia (acquired language deficits due to neurological damage) as well as language processing in neurologically normal individuals. Please visit our lab website to learn more about our research program.
-
A universal aphasia battery for assessing language disorders in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who speak traditional languages and creoles
Aphasia is an acquired language disorder resulting from injury to language areas of the brain, and is a common and debilitating consequence of stroke. Optimal management and treatment of aphasia depends first on carrying out a comprehensive and accurate assessment of the nature and severity of the aphasia. It is essential to determine which language domains are impaired or spared (e.g., word finding, expressive syntax, receptive syntax, etc.) so that interventions can be targeted to the needs of the individual. There are several widely used batteries of tests for aphasia assessment in English and other European languages, but there are presently no validated aphasia batteries in most of the languages of the world. In particular, there are no aphasia batteries in any of the traditional languages or creoles spoken by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The goal of this project is to create a “universal” aphasia battery and to “instantiate” it in several traditional languages and creoles. For the battery to be “universal” means that its items will not make reference to specific word forms (e.g., “name a stethoscope”) but will instead be defined in terms of linguistic properties (e.g., “name a low-frequency man-made item with a phonologically complex 3-syllable name”). This structure will enable the battery to be instantiated faithfully in any language or dialect, rather than being translated or adapted from a source language. We will develop specific items to create aphasia batteries in Kalaw Kawaw Ya, Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole), Pintupi-Luritja, Pitjantjatjara, Warlpiri, NT Kriol, Aboriginal English, and standard Australian English. This work will result in validated aphasia batteries ready for clinical use in several widely spoken traditional languages and creoles, as well as a foundation for development of aphasia batteries in other Indigenous languages of Australia and other community languages spoken in Australia and across the world.
-
A universal aphasia battery for assessing language disorders in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who speak traditional languages and creoles
Aphasia is an acquired language disorder resulting from injury to language areas of the brain, and is a common and debilitating consequence of stroke. Optimal management and treatment of aphasia depends first on carrying out a comprehensive and accurate assessment of the nature and severity of the aphasia. It is essential to determine which language domains are impaired or spared (e.g., word finding, expressive syntax, receptive syntax, etc.) so that interventions can be targeted to the needs of the individual. There are several widely used batteries of tests for aphasia assessment in English and other European languages, but there are presently no validated aphasia batteries in most of the languages of the world. In particular, there are no aphasia batteries in any of the traditional languages or creoles spoken by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The goal of this project is to create a “universal” aphasia battery and to “instantiate” it in several traditional languages and creoles. For the battery to be “universal” means that its items will not make reference to specific word forms (e.g., “name a stethoscope”) but will instead be defined in terms of linguistic properties (e.g., “name a low-frequency man-made item with a phonologically complex 3-syllable name”). This structure will enable the battery to be instantiated faithfully in any language or dialect, rather than being translated or adapted from a source language. We will develop specific items to create aphasia batteries in Kalaw Kawaw Ya, Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole), Pintupi-Luritja, Pitjantjatjara, Warlpiri, NT Kriol, Aboriginal English, and standard Australian English. This work will result in validated aphasia batteries ready for clinical use in several widely spoken traditional languages and creoles, as well as a foundation for development of aphasia batteries in other Indigenous languages of Australia and other community languages spoken in Australia and across the world.
-
Neural correlates of recovery from aphasia after stroke
Aphasia is one of the most common and debilitating consequences of stroke. Aphasia is caused by damage to language regions of the brain, which are usually localized to the left hemisphere. Fortunately, most individuals with aphasia after a stroke experience some degree of recovery of language function over time. The pace of recovery is greatest in the first weeks and months, but clinically meaningful gains in language function are possible even years after stroke. Recovery from aphasia is thought to depend on neural plasticity, that is, functional reorganization of surviving brain regions such that they take on new or expanded roles in language processing. However, despite much research, the mechanisms that underlie this process of functional reorganization remain poorly understood. The overall goals of this project are to better characterize the neural correlates of recovery from aphasia after stroke, and to determine which patterns of functional reorganization are associated with more versus less favorable language outcomes. This project involves a range of innovative methodologies including functional MRI with adaptive language mapping, comprehensive language assessments designed to quantify deficits in different components of the language processing system, and advanced machine learning algorithms to disentangle complex relationships between structural damage, neurofunctional changes, and language outcomes. A better understanding of the biological mechanisms that underlie recovery from aphasia will improve the clinical management of individuals with aphasia.
-
Language and the brain
I am interested in advising students on any and all projects related to language and the brain. This includes research with individuals with aphasia (acquired language deficits due to neurological damage) as well as language processing in neurologically normal individuals. Please visit our lab website to learn more about our research program.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Behavioral and neurological predictors of post-stroke aphasia recovery
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Copland
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Stephen Wilson directly for media enquiries about:
- Aphasia
- Language and the brain
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