Cognitive Neuroscience of Speech and Language
Our discovery science goal is to provide biologically and psychologically plausible accounts of human communication and its disorders.
Current areas of research focus include: (a) laterality and sex differences in healthy adult speech and language; and (b) cognitive neurorehabilitation of acquired speech and language disorders.
Have a look at some of our publications:
Bilingual language processing: Cowell, P., Ibrahim, A., & Varley, R. (2017). Word frequency predicts translation asymmetry. Journal of Memory and Language, 95, 49-67.doi:10.1016/j.jml.2017.02.001
Lexical retrieval: Khwaileh, T., Body, R., & Herbert, R. (2017). Lexical retrieval after Arabic aphasia: Syntactic access and predictors of spoken naming. Journal of Neurolinguistics, 42, 140-155. doi:10.1016/j.jneuroling.2017.01.001
Individual difference in speech production: Whiteside, S. P. (2016). Profiling Individual Differences in Speech Production. In A. Agwuele, & A. Lotto (Eds.), Essays in Speech Processes Language Production and Perception (pp. 269-314). Equinox Publishing.
Khwaileh, T., Body, R., & Herbert, R. (2015). Morpho-syntactic processing of Arabic plurals after aphasia: dissecting lexical meaning from morpho-syntax within word boundaries. Cognitive Neuropsychology, 32, 340-367
Word retrieval: Wilshire, C., Singh, S., & Tattersall, C. (2016). Serial order in word form retrieval: new insights from the auditory picture-word interference task. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 23(1), 295-305.
Lateralised language and cognitive systems: Gurd, J.M. & Cowell, P.E. (2015) Discordant cerebral lateralisation for verbal fluency is not an artefact of attention: Evidence from MzHd twins. Brain Structure and Function. 220, 59-69.
Acquired apraxia of speech: Whiteside, S.P., Dyson, L., Cowell, P.E. & Varley, R. (2015). The relationship between apraxia of speech and oral apraxia: association or dissociation? Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 30, 670-682.
Sex differences and acoustic phonetics: Herrmann, F., Cunningham, S. & Whiteside, S.P. (2014) Speaker sex effects on temporal and spectro-temporal measures of speech. Journal of the International Phonetic Association, 44(1), 59–74.
Producing spoken words: Herbert, R., Anderson, E., Best, W., & Gregory, E. (2014). Activation of syntax in lexical production in healthy speakers and in aphasia. Cortex, 57, 212-226. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010945214001208
Intervention for spoken word difficulties: Herbert, R., Gregory, E., & Best, W. (2014). Syntactic versus lexical therapy for anomia in acquired aphasia: Differential effects on narrative and conversation. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 49, 2, 162-173.
Communication aid: Hawley, M. S., Cunningham, S. P., Green, P. D., Enderby, P., Palmer, R., Sehgal, S., & Neill, P. O. (2013). A voice-input voice-output communication aid for people with severe speech impairment. IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 21(1), 23–31.
Sex differences, hormones and speech: Cowell, P.E., Ledger, W.L., Wadnerkar, M.B., Skilling, F.M., & Whiteside, S.P. (2011) Hormones and dichotic listening: Evidence from the study of menstrual cycle effects. Brain and Cognition, 76:256-262.
Our impact goal is to translate the scientific evidence from our research into procedures, services and instruments that benefit society, with a focus on people with communication disorders.
SWORD computerised treatment for acquired apraxia of speech:
Varley, R., Cowell, P.E., Dyson, L., Inglis, L., Roper, A, & Whiteside, S.P. (2016). Self-administered computer therapy for apraxia of speech: two-period randomized control trial with crossover. Stroke, 47, 822-828.
Whiteside, S.P., Inglis, A. L., Dyson, L., Roper, A., Harbottle, A., Ryder, J., Cowell, P.E. & Varley, R.A. et al. (2012) Error reduction therapy in reducing struggle and grope behaviours in apraxia of speech. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 22, 267-294.
- http://www.propellertherapy.com/store/c7/SWORD.html
- http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2015/apr/15/how-technology-is-changing-speech-and-language-therapy
- https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/research/impact/stories/sword-stroke-patients-speech-therapy-1.664749
The POWERS assessment:
Herbert, R.E., et al. (2013). Profile of word errors and retrieval in speech (POWERS). Publisher: JR Press.
www.jr-press.co.uk/word-errors-retrieval-speech.html
Accessible Information Guidelines:
These were developed by Herbert, R.E., Brumfitt, S.M., Gregory, E., Haw, C. et al. in collaboration with the Stroke Association (2012).
https://www.stroke.org.uk/sites/default/files/accessible_information_guidelines.pdf1_.pdf
Communication Aids:
Cunningham, S. Voice Input Voice Output Communication Aid (VIVOCA).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4urWsaJhtkk
Our cluster membership includes cognitive neuroscientists, speech scientists, speech and language therapists, computer scientists and psycholinguists.
Academic staff
- Professor Patricia E Cowell
- Dr Stuart Cunningham
- Dr Emma Gregory
- Dr Ruth Herbert
- Dr Catherine Tattersall
- Professor Sandra Whiteside (Cluster Lead)
Emeritus Staff
- Professor Shelagh Brumfitt
Honorary Staff
- Professor Rosemary Varley