
Overview
Background
Dr Michèle Masson-Trottier is a certified speech-language pathologist and postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Queensland. Her work bridges speech-language therapy, neuroimaging, and open science to improve communication outcomes in individuals with post-stroke aphasia and neurodegenerative conditions such as primary progressive aphasia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Her expertise includes:
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Evidence-based language therapy development and adaptation
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Therapy-induced neuroplasticity and functional neuroimaging (rs-fMRI, task-fMRI)
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Technology-supported communication interventions
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Culturally and linguistically responsive care models
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Reproducible, containerised neuroimaging workflows for clinical populations
As part of the Neurodesk project, she leads the development of open, accessible neuroimaging tools tailored to clinical research needs, including lesion segmentation and cortical atrophy pipelines. Her work reduces technical barriers for clinician-researchers and promotes inclusive, translational science.
Her research is widely disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, international collaborations, and clinical knowledge translation. She is committed to making neuroscience tools and evidence-based interventions more usable and impactful across healthcare contexts.
Keywords: aphasia, neuroimaging, speech-language pathology, primary progressive aphasia, open science, therapy effectiveness, neuroplasticity, dementia, communication disorders, translational neuroscience
Availability
- Dr Michele Masson-Trottier is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy of Health Science (Speech Pathology), Université de Montréal
Research interests
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Open Science Tools for Clinical Neuroimaging
As part of the Neurodesk project, I build reproducible, containerised neuroimaging workflows that support clinical research in speech-language pathology and neurorehabilitation. These tools are designed for accessibility by clinician-researchers with limited technical training, enabling broader use of neuroimaging in patient-centred studies of aphasia and dementia.
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Therapy-Induced Neuroplasticity in Aphasia
My research examines how targeted speech-language therapies can drive neuroplastic changes in individuals with post-stroke or primary progressive aphasia. Using structural and functional neuroimaging, I investigate the neural mechanisms that support language recovery. This work informs the design of evidence-based, neurologically grounded interventions aimed at improving communication outcomes.
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Culturally Responsive Rehabilitation for Communication Disorders
I translate research into practical tools that support speech-language pathologists working with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations. This includes developing multilingual aphasia therapy resources and adapting clinical materials to enhance cultural and linguistic relevance. My work aims to improve equity in care by equipping clinicians with accessible, evidence-informed resources for inclusive practice.
Research impacts
Dr Michèle Masson-Trottier’s research improves communication and quality of life for individuals living with aphasia and neurodegenerative diseases such as primary progressive aphasia and Alzheimer’s disease. Her work ensures that speech-language therapy and neuroimaging tools are both effective and accessible to clinicians and patients.
Clinical relevance and accessibility Dr Masson-Trottier’s research has led to the adaptation of evidence-based language therapies for French-speaking populations, enhancing cultural and linguistic inclusivity in healthcare. She has also developed publicly available multilingual resources to support communication recovery in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) individuals with aphasia, available on her website for free. These tools promote equitable access to rehabilitation materials and empower clinicians working with diverse populations. Additionally, she co-developed COMPAs, an app supporting communication between people with dementia and caregivers in long-term care settings.
Bridging research and practice As part of the Neurodesk project, Dr Masson-Trottier develops open, reproducible neuroimaging workflows that address the needs of clinician-researchers. These tools are already being adopted in grant-funded studies and are reducing the technical barriers that often prevent clinical teams from using brain imaging in rehabilitation research.
Supporting caregivers and care systems Her work promotes relational and functional communication approaches, empowering caregivers through education and co-designed resources. This has led to more person-centred care models and improved caregiver engagement in dementia and stroke recovery contexts.
Works
Search Professor Michele Masson-Trottier’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2025
Journal Article
A systematic review of Phonological Components Analysis therapy studies for aphasia
Python, Gregoire, Durand, Edith and Masson-Trottier, Michèle (2025). A systematic review of Phonological Components Analysis therapy studies for aphasia. Brain Research Bulletin, 223 111269, 111269-223. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2025.111269
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Effectiveness of French Phonological Components Analysis in individuals with chronic aphasia
Masson‐Trottier, Michèle, Marcotte, Karine, Rochon, Elizabeth, Leonard, Carol and Ansaldo, Ana Inés (2024). Effectiveness of French Phonological Components Analysis in individuals with chronic aphasia. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 59 (6), 2239-2264. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.13080
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Efficacy of COMPAs, an app designed to support communication between persons living with dementia in long-term care settings and their caregivers: mixed methods implementation study
Ansaldo, Ana Inés, Masson-Trottier, Michèle, Delacourt, Barbara, Dubuc, Jade and Dubé, Catherine (2024). Efficacy of COMPAs, an app designed to support communication between persons living with dementia in long-term care settings and their caregivers: mixed methods implementation study. JMIR Aging, 7 e47565, e47565. doi: 10.2196/47565
Featured
2022
Journal Article
French phonological component analysis and aphasia recovery: a bilingual perspective on behavioral and structural data
Masson-Trottier, Michèle, Dash, Tanya, Berroir, Pierre and Ansaldo, Ana Inés (2022). French phonological component analysis and aphasia recovery: a bilingual perspective on behavioral and structural data. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 16 752121. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.752121
Featured
2021
Journal Article
Resting-state functional connectivity following phonological component analysis: the combined action of phonology and visual orthographic cues
Masson-Trottier, Michèle, Sontheimer, Anna, Durand, Edith and Ansaldo, Ana Inés (2021). Resting-state functional connectivity following phonological component analysis: the combined action of phonology and visual orthographic cues. Brain Sciences, 11 (11), 1458-11. doi: 10.3390/brainsci11111458
2024
Journal Article
An international core outcome set for primary progressive aphasia (COS-PPA): Consensus-based recommendations for communication interventions across research and clinical settings
Volkmer, Anna, Alves, Emily Viega, Bar-Zeev, Hagit, Barbieri, Elena, Battista, Petronilla, Beales, Ashleigh, Beber, Barbara Costa, Brotherhood, Emilie, Cadorio, Ines Ribeiro, Carthery-Goulart, Maria Teresa, Cartwright, Jade, Crutch, Sebastian, Croot, Karen, Freitas, Maria Isabel D Ávila, Gallée, Jeanne, Grasso, Stephanie M., Haley, Katarina, Hendriksen, Heleen, Henderson, Shalom, Jiskoot, Lize, Almeida, Isabel Junqueira, Kindell, Jackie, Kingma, Rachel, Kwan-Chen, Lorinda Ly, Lavoie, Monica, Lifshitz-Ben-Basat, Adi, Jokel, Regina, Mahut-Dubos, Aurore, Matias-Guiu, Jordi A. ... Hardy, Chris J. D. (2024). An international core outcome set for primary progressive aphasia (COS-PPA): Consensus-based recommendations for communication interventions across research and clinical settings. Alzheimer's and Dementia, 21 (1) e14362. doi: 10.1002/alz.14362
2021
Journal Article
COMPAS: une application innovante pour soutenir la communication centrée sur la personne entre les personnes âgées atteintes de démence et leur proche-aidant
Delacourt, Barbara, Dubé, Catherine, Masson-Trottier, Michèle and Ansaldo, Ana-Inés (2021). COMPAS: une application innovante pour soutenir la communication centrée sur la personne entre les personnes âgées atteintes de démence et leur proche-aidant. Revue Neurologique, 177, S4-S4. doi: 10.1016/j.neurol.2021.02.083
2021
Journal Article
Increased links between language and motor areas: A proof-of-concept study on resting-state functional connectivity following Personalized Observation, Execution and Mental imagery therapy in chronic aphasia
Durand, Edith, Masson-Trottier, Michèle, Sontheimer, Anna and Ansaldo, Ana Inés (2021). Increased links between language and motor areas: A proof-of-concept study on resting-state functional connectivity following Personalized Observation, Execution and Mental imagery therapy in chronic aphasia. Brain and Cognition, 148 105659, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.bandc.2020.105659
2020
Journal Article
Efficiency of attentional processes in bilingual speakers with aphasia
Dash, Tanya, Masson-Trottier, Michele and Ansaldo, Ana Ines (2020). Efficiency of attentional processes in bilingual speakers with aphasia. Aphasiology, 34 (11), 1363-1387. doi: 10.1080/02687038.2020.1719970
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Michele Masson-Trottier is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
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