Principal Investigator: Aneta Kielar, PhD
Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
BIO5 Institute and Cognitive Sciences GIDP
The mission of our laboratory is to study how the brain is processing language, in healthy people and in individuals who experience acquired language disorders.
The LAN laboratory directed by Dr. Aneta Kielar is dedicated to the study of neural systems that support language processing and related cognitive functions. We explore how brain changes during normal aging and what happens when someone suffers language disorders resulting from stroke or primary progressive aphasia. Aphasia is a language disorder that is caused by damage to the brain regions that support language production and comprehension.
We explore these topics by integrating measures of cognitive functions with structural and functional neuroimaging techniques. Our current work focuses on development of treatment for aphasia by combining speech-language therapy with noninvasive brain stimulation techniques. We also explore genetic and blood-based biomarkers that may influence response to the intervention.
Ultimately, we aim to improve understanding of neurobiology of language and hope that this knowledge helps people affected by aphasia live happier and healthier lives.
The leading questions that drive our research are:
- How does the neural circuitry of the brain support language and cognition?
- When brain regions that support language are damaged, how does the brain adapt and support recovery?
- How can we stimulate the neuroplastic potential of the brain to maximize recovery of language in neurological disorders, such as post-stroke aphasia and the language variant of Alzheimer’s disease, primary progressive aphasia?
Funding
Contact Information
Dr. Aneta Kielar
Phone: 520-621-5105
Main Email: akielar@arizona.edu
Lab Email: brainarizona@gmail.com
Certificate In Neuroimaging Methods
Learn neuroimaging principles and practice analysis skills in small classes with individual attention. Classes taken to earn the 12-credit Neuroimaging Methods Certificate will provide graduate students with training in neuroimaging – experimental design, acquisition, processing and analysis of functional and structural brain images.
To find out more about the program and courses here: https://cogsci.arizona.edu/programs/certificate
