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
2006
Journal Article
Congruent embodied representations for visually presented actions and linguistic phrases describing actions
Aziz-Zadeh, Lisa, Wilson, Stephen M., Rizzolatti, Giacomo and Iacoboni, Marco (2006). Congruent embodied representations for visually presented actions and linguistic phrases describing actions. Current Biology, 16 (18), 1818-1823. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2006.07.060
2006
Journal Article
Beyond a single area: Motor control and language within a neural architecture encompassing Broca's area
Iacoboni, Marco and Wilson, Stephen M. (2006). Beyond a single area: Motor control and language within a neural architecture encompassing Broca's area. Cortex, 42 (4), 503-506. doi: 10.1016/s0010-9452(08)70387-3
2004
Journal Article
Point-light biological motion perception activates human premotor cortex
Saygin, Ayse Pinar, Wilson, Stephen M., Hagler, Donald J. , Bates, Elizabeth and Sereno, Martin I. (2004). Point-light biological motion perception activates human premotor cortex. Journal of Neuroscience, 24 (27), 6181-6188. doi: 10.1523/jneurosci.0504-04.2004
2004
Journal Article
Listening to speech activates motor areas involved in speech production
Wilson, Stephen M., Saygin, Ayşe Pinar, Sereno, Martin I. and Iacoboni, Marco (2004). Listening to speech activates motor areas involved in speech production. Nature Neuroscience, 7 (7), 701-702. doi: 10.1038/nn1263
2004
Journal Article
Left hemisphere motor facilitation in response to manual action sounds
Aziz-Zadeh, Lisa, Iacoboni, Marco, Zaidel, Eran, Wilson, Stephen and Mazziotta, John (2004). Left hemisphere motor facilitation in response to manual action sounds. European Journal of Neuroscience, 19 (9), 2609-2612. doi: 10.1111/j.0953-816X.2004.03348.x
2004
Journal Article
Grammaticality judgment in aphasia: deficits are not specific to syntactic structures, aphasic syndromes, or lesion sites
Wilson, Stephen M. and Saygin, Ayşe Pinar (2004). Grammaticality judgment in aphasia: deficits are not specific to syntactic structures, aphasic syndromes, or lesion sites. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 16 (2), 238-252. doi: 10.1162/089892904322984535
2004
Journal Article
Action comprehension in aphasia: linguistic and non-linguistic deficits and their lesion correlates
Saygin, Ayşe Pinar, Wilson, Stephen M., Dronkers, Nina F. and Bates, Elizabeth (2004). Action comprehension in aphasia: linguistic and non-linguistic deficits and their lesion correlates. Neuropsychologia, 42 (13), 1788-1804. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2004.04.016
2003
Journal Article
Voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping
Bates, Elizabeth, Wilson, Stephen M., Saygin, Ayse Pinar, Dick, Frederic, Sereno, Martin I., Knight, Robert T. and Dronkers, Nina F. (2003). Voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping. Nature Neuroscience, 6 (5), 448-450. doi: 10.1038/nn1050
2003
Journal Article
Neural resources for processing language and environmental sounds: evidence from aphasia
Saygin, Ayşe Pinar, Dick, Frederic, Wilson, Stephen M., Dronkers, Nina F. and Bates, Elizabeth (2003). Neural resources for processing language and environmental sounds: evidence from aphasia. Brain, 126 (4), 928-945. doi: 10.1093/brain/awg082
2003
Journal Article
Lexically specific constructions in the acquisition of inflection in English
Wilson, Stephen (2003). Lexically specific constructions in the acquisition of inflection in English. Journal of Child Language, 30 (1), 75-115. doi: 10.1017/s0305000902005512
2003
Journal Article
A phonetic study of voiced, voiceless and alternating stops in Turkish
Wilson, Stephen M. (2003). A phonetic study of voiced, voiceless and alternating stops in Turkish. CRL Newsletter, 15 (1), 3-13.
1999
Book
Coverbs and complex predicates in Wagiman
Wilson, Stephen (1999). Coverbs and complex predicates in Wagiman. Stanford, CA, United States: CSLI Publications.
1998
Other Outputs
Wakgala mahan matjjin Wagiman: Stories in the Wagiman language of Australia's Northern Territory
Wilson, Stephen (1998). Wakgala mahan matjjin Wagiman: Stories in the Wagiman language of Australia's Northern Territory. Katherine, NT, United States: Diwurruwurru-jaru Aboriginal Corporation.
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.
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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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