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
2011
Journal Article
Clinicopathological correlations in corticobasal degeneration
Lee, Suzee E, Rabinovici, Gil D, Mayo, Mary Catherine, Wilson, Stephen M, Seeley, William W, DeArmond, Stephen J, Huang, Eric J, Trojanowski, John Q, Growdon, Matthew E, Jang, Jung Y, Sidhu, Manu, See, Tricia M, Karydas, Anna M, Gorno-Tempini, Maria-Luisa, Boxer, Adam L, Weiner, Michael W, Geschwind, Michael D, Rankin, Katherine P and Miller, Bruce L (2011). Clinicopathological correlations in corticobasal degeneration. Annals of Neurology, 70 (2), 327-340. doi: 10.1002/ana.22424
2011
Journal Article
Semantic dementia and persisting Wernicke's aphasia: linguistic and anatomical profiles
Ogar, J. M., Baldo, J. V., Wilson, S. M., Brambati, S. M., Miller, B. L., Dronkers, N. F. and Gorno-Tempini, M. L. (2011). Semantic dementia and persisting Wernicke's aphasia: linguistic and anatomical profiles. Brain and Language, 117 (1), 28-33. doi: 10.1016/j.bandl.2010.11.004
2010
Journal Article
Neural correlates of syntactic processing in the nonfluent variant of primary progressive aphasia
Wilson, Stephen M, Dronkers, Nina F, Ogar, Jennifer M, Jang, Jung, Growdon, Matthew E, Agosta, Federica, Henry, Maya L, Miller, Bruce L and Gorno-Tempini, Maria Luisa (2010). Neural correlates of syntactic processing in the nonfluent variant of primary progressive aphasia. The Journal of Neuroscience, 30 (50), 16845-16854. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2547-10.2010
2010
Journal Article
Connected speech production in three variants of primary progressive aphasia
Wilson, Stephen M, Henry, Maya L, Besbris, Max, Ogar, Jennifer M, Dronkers, Nina F, Jarrold, William, Miller, Bruce L and Gorno-Tempini, Maria Luisa (2010). Connected speech production in three variants of primary progressive aphasia. Brain, 133 (Pt 7), 2069-2088. doi: 10.1093/brain/awq129
2010
Journal Article
Gray matter correlates of set-shifting among neurodegenerative disease, mild cognitive impairment, and healthy older adults
Pa, Judy, Possin, Katherine L, Wilson, Stephen M, Quitania, Lovingly C, Kramer, Joel H, Boxer, Adam L, Weiner, Michael W and Johnson, Julene K (2010). Gray matter correlates of set-shifting among neurodegenerative disease, mild cognitive impairment, and healthy older adults. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 16 (4), 640-650. doi: 10.1017/S1355617710000408
2010
Journal Article
Is relational reasoning dependent on language? A voxel-based lesion symptom mapping study
Baldo, Juliana V., Bunge, Silvia A., Wilson, Stephen M. and Dronkers, Nina F. (2010). Is relational reasoning dependent on language? A voxel-based lesion symptom mapping study. Brain and Language, 113 (2), 59-64. doi: 10.1016/j.bandl.2010.01.004
2010
Journal Article
Language networks in semantic dementia
Agosta, Federica, Henry, Roland G., Migliaccio, Raffaella, Neuhaus, John, Miller, Bruce L., Dronkers, Nina F., Brambati, Simona M., Filippi, Massimo, Ogar, Jennifer M., Wilson, Stephen M. and Gorno-Tempini, Maria Luisa (2010). Language networks in semantic dementia. Brain, 133 (1), 286-299. doi: 10.1093/brain/awp233
2009
Journal Article
Neural basis of interpersonal traits in neurodegenerative diseases
Sollberger, Marc, Stanley, Christine M., Wilson, Stephen M., Gyurak, Anett, Beckman, Victoria, Growdon, Matthew, Jang, Jung, Weiner, Michael W., Miller, Bruce L. and Rankin, Katherine P. (2009). Neural basis of interpersonal traits in neurodegenerative diseases. Neuropsychologia, 47 (13), 2812-2827. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2009.06.006
2009
Journal Article
Neural correlates of word production stages delineated by parametric modulation of psycholinguistic variables
Wilson, Stephen M., Isenberg, Anna Lisette and Hickok, Gregory (2009). Neural correlates of word production stages delineated by parametric modulation of psycholinguistic variables. Human Brain Mapping, 30 (11), 3596-3608. doi: 10.1002/hbm.20782
2009
Journal Article
Automated MRI-based classification of primary progressive aphasia variants
Wilson, Stephen M, Ogar, Jennifer M, Laluz, Victor, Growdon, Matthew, Jang, Jung, Glenn, Shenly, Miller, Bruce L, Weiner, Michael W and Gorno-Tempini, Maria Luisa (2009). Automated MRI-based classification of primary progressive aphasia variants. NeuroImage, 47 (4), 1558-1567. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.05.085
2009
Journal Article
Detecting sarcasm from paralinguistic cues: anatomic and cognitive correlates in neurodegenerative disease
Rankin, Katherine P., Salazar, Andrea, Gorno-Tempini, Maria Luisa, Sollberger, Marc, Wilson, Stephen M., Pavlic, Danijela, Stanley, Christine M., Glenn, Shenly, Weiner, Michael W. and Miller, Bruce L. (2009). Detecting sarcasm from paralinguistic cues: anatomic and cognitive correlates in neurodegenerative disease. NeuroImage, 47 (4), 2005-2015. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.05.077
2009
Journal Article
Speech perception when the motor system is compromised
Wilson, Stephen M. (2009). Speech perception when the motor system is compromised. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 13 (8), 329-330. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2009.06.001
2009
Journal Article
Giving speech a hand: gesture modulates activity in auditory cortex during speech perception
Hubbard, Amy L., Wilson, Stephen M., Callan, Daniel E. and Dapretto, Mirella (2009). Giving speech a hand: gesture modulates activity in auditory cortex during speech perception. Human Brain Mapping, 30 (3), 1028-1037. doi: 10.1002/hbm.20565
2009
Journal Article
The neural basis of surface dyslexia in semantic dementia
Wilson, Stephen M., Brambati, Simona M., Henry, Roland G., Handwerker, Daniel A., Agosta, Federica, Miller, Bruce L., Wilkins, David P., Ogar, Jennifer M. and Gorno-Tempini, Maria Luisa (2009). The neural basis of surface dyslexia in semantic dementia. Brain, 132 (1), 71-86. doi: 10.1093/brain/awn300
2008
Journal Article
Neural organization of linguistic short-term memory is sensory modality-dependent: evidence from signed and spoken language
Pa, Judy, Wilson, Stephen M., Pickell, Herbert, Bellugi, Ursula and Hickok, Gregory (2008). Neural organization of linguistic short-term memory is sensory modality-dependent: evidence from signed and spoken language. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 20 (12), 2198-210. doi: 10.1162/jocn.2008.20154
2008
Journal Article
A longitudinal fMRI study of the paced auditory serial addition task
Cardinal, K. S., Wilson, S. M., Giesser, B. S., Drain, A. E. and Sicotte, N. L. (2008). A longitudinal fMRI study of the paced auditory serial addition task. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 14 (4), 465-471. doi: 10.1177/1352458507084263
2008
Journal Article
Beyond superior temporal cortex: Intersubject correlations in narrative speech comprehension
Wilson, Stephen M., Molnar-Szakacs, Istvan and Iacoboni, Marco (2008). Beyond superior temporal cortex: Intersubject correlations in narrative speech comprehension. Cerebral Cortex, 18 (1), 230-242. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhm049
2007
Journal Article
The essential role of premotor cortex in speech perception
Meister, Ingo G, Wilson, Stephen M, Deblieck, Choi, Wu, Allan D and Iacoboni, Marco (2007). The essential role of premotor cortex in speech perception. Current Biology, 17 (19), 1692-1696. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2007.08.064
2007
Journal Article
What is involved and what is necessary for complex linguistic and nonlinguistic auditory processing: evidence from functional magnetic resonance imaging and lesion data
Dick, Frederic, Saygin, Ayse Pinar, Galati, Gaspare, Pitzalis, Sabrina, Bentrovato, Simone, D'Amico, Simona, Wilson, Stephen, Bates, Elizabeth and Pizzamiglio, Luigi (2007). What is involved and what is necessary for complex linguistic and nonlinguistic auditory processing: evidence from functional magnetic resonance imaging and lesion data. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 19 (5), 799-816. doi: 10.1162/jocn.2007.19.5.799
2006
Journal Article
Neural responses to non-native phonemes varying in producibility: evidence for the sensorimotor nature of speech perception
Wilson, Stephen M. and Iacoboni, Marco (2006). Neural responses to non-native phonemes varying in producibility: evidence for the sensorimotor nature of speech perception. NeuroImage, 33 (1), 316-325. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.05.032
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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