Training in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Communication

Project Summary/Abstract Disorders that affect communication have an enormous personal, societal, and economic impact. These conditions (e.g. aphasia, developmental language disorder, dyslexia, deafness and hearing impairment, autism) can be better addressed through a more complete understanding of the neural systems that support typical communication. To make progress in assessment and treatment of these conditions, the next generation of scientists needs to not only understand the underlying neural bases of disordered communication, but also how to translate research from the laboratory to the clinic. Additionally, research on communication disorders must incorporate not just historical knowledge but also the perspectives of the communities affected by these conditions. Hard-won lessons teach us that meaningful change relies on community-engaged research, where researchers and stakeholders collaborate to identify questions and build mutual trust. The current proposal, a renewal of Cognitive Neuroscience of Communication training program, will recruit a total of thirteen predoctoral trainees and five postdoctoral trainees, each serving a two-year traineeship, and equip them with specific skills and competencies crucial for research careers. Trainees from Psychology and Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences will receive targeted instruction in cognitive neuroscience, with an emphasis on neuroimaging methods, and will learn to apply those skills in trainee-led, mentored research projects. Further, training will emphasize the application of basic research, and trainees will interact not only with scientists who are experts in communication disorders, but also clinicians and community stakeholders, including those that are affected by aphasia, dyslexia, and autism, among other conditions. Individualized development plans support these training themes, reinforcing skills in community-engaged research, individual differences methods, and computational skills. Our mentor team, drawn from faculty in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and three different degree programs in Psychology, has substantial expertise in a variety of neuroimaging and neuromodulation methods (e.g. fMRI, fNIRS, TMS/tDCS, EEG/ERP) and has conducted impactful research on a range of communication disorders (e.g. aphasia, hearing loss, dyslexia, developmental language disorder, autism). This training program will produce a cohort of scholars who are poised to make significant progress in the study of communication.