FriSem

Jill Kries, Postdoc in Assistant Professor Laura Gwilliams’s lab, Department of Psychology, Stanford University

Title: Understanding speech and language encoding through the lens of aphasia

Abstract: Comprehending spoken language is fundamental to human connection, yet we lack clarity on how acoustic speech waveforms are transformed into meaningful language in the brain. My research aims to unify cognitive neuroscience and linguistic theories to understand how speech is implemented in the brain. To this end, I study speech and language encoding in individuals with aphasia, an acquired language disorder after stroke (or tumor resection, traumatic brain injury, etc.). My research not only provides insights into the disorder itself but also reveals crucial mechanisms for neurotypical language processing. Using EEG recordings of natural speech listening, I investigate neural encoding at both sensory-acoustic and cognitive-linguistic levels. This ecologically valid approach has identified neural representations and mechanisms essential for speech comprehension, such as maintaining speech sounds until word identity is resolved. My research contributes to both theoretical understanding and practical applications, exploring the potential for developing diagnostic tools based on these findings.