Projects / Programmes
Investigating the effectiveness of cognitive vs. linguistic treatment in language disorders: behavioural and transcranial magnetic stimulation approaches
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.05.02 |
Humanities |
Linguistics |
Theoretical and applied linguistics |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| H361 |
Humanities |
Neurolinguistics |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 6.02 |
Humanities |
Languages and Literature |
language intervention, cognitive therapy, rTMS, language disorders
Researchers (10)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
A vast body of research has shown that language comprehension relies on the ability to integrate information from multiple sources to successfully ensure communication. Recent research highlights the importance of cognitive mechanisms –primarily working memory and executive functions– when speakers attempt comprehension, but must override input conflicts. Despite the fact that successful interpretation of sentences is linked to executive function skills, executive function therapy has not been used as a means of intervention when it comes to language disorders. In other words, language recovery has not been investigated as a result of cognitive enhancement. Moreover, traditional intervention methods focus exclusively on behavioral treatment failing to take advantage of newly developed technology specialized for enhancing brain activity.
With the above in mind, the overarching goal of the proposed study is to investigate the underlying processes that affect language recovery in populations suffering either from focal brain-damage or from neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on either executive functions or core linguistic properties and by providing behavioral treatment with or without non-invasive brain stimulation (e.g., repetitive transcranial magnetic brain stimulation - rTMS).
Neuromodulatory tools can stimulate the cortex in a non-invasive and have been used worldwide as treatment tools for disorders associated with stroke, Alzheimer's disease, depression, epilepsy and developmental deficits (Sokhadze et al., 2014; Dadgar et al., 2016; van den Noort et al., 2015; Wilkinson and Murphy, 2016; Ren et al., 2014). The proposed comparative trial will provide clinical evidence (qualitative and quantitative) on whether (a) more people benefit from a pure linguistic enhancement or from a cognitive enhancement and (b) rTMS treatment offers extensive improvement of language function compared to standard behavioral treatment.
The project is original in that (a) for the first time treatment effects will be examined by the same methodology in two distinct types of acquired communication disorders; resulting either from focal brain damage (such as agrammatic aphasia) or from neurodegenerative conditions (such as Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment), (b) for the first time compelling evidence from Slovenian will be reported while applying novel -for Slovenian standards- methodologies, such as non-invasive brain stimulation as a treatment tool of language deficits, (c) the optimal approach that maximizes generalization and promotes language recovery will be identified. The outcomes of the proposed study, will help us (a) improve our theoretical understanding of language disorders, by detecting the processes and the underlying mechanisms that support language in different clinical populations, and (b) improve the quality of life of individuals with language deficits, given that the better outcomes of the therapy will support them re-engage in social situations and will enhance everyday life activities.
Significance for science
The proposed research will have significant impact on science, the society and the economy. At the scientific level, understanding the mechanisms of cognitive control that underlie language processing will highlight the relationship between language and cognition, and the degree to which they overlap in language comprehension. While it is generally argued that language computations are potentially supported by cognitive mechanisms, our knowledge with respect to how language and cognition interact in comprehension is sparse. This is the first study that attempts to investigate cognitive aspects of linguistic treatment in a comprehensive way. The project will contribute to the literature studying language treatment in language disorders resulting from focal brain damage and neurodegenerative diseases. Examining non-typical populations with language and/or cognitive control deficits will offer key evidence on the predictive power of cognitive parameters to language processing in general. Furthermore, this study will provide compelling evidence on whether behavioral intervention alone has the same long-lasting effects as when combined with rTMS. Researchers often embark on studies of the neurobiological impact of interventions without first investigating the effectiveness of the behavioral treatment. Importantly, the present study does not only aim to enhance individuals’ performance, regaining access to their linguistic abilities, but goes one step further by aiming to investigate whether specific interventions can change the trajectory of language decline in people with neurodegeneration (AD & MCI). The combination of the above (cognitive enhancement with brain-stimulation) as a means for language improvement together with the fact that this will be the first study that will report compelling evidence from Slovenian applying novel -for the Slovenian standards- methodologies, highlights the study’s unique contribution to the several scientific fields such as neurolinguistics, neuroscience and speech therapy.
Beyond the scientific value of the proposed research, the project will provide the opportunity to several graduate students to have research experience, establishing thus a hub for linguistically sophisticated psycho/neurolinguistic research in Slovenia. This will stimulate students' interest in these fields and will train future generations as inquisitive and critical scientists. Given that neurolinguistics is a new research area not only for the Department of Comparative and General Linguistics at the University of Ljubljana, but also for Slovenia as a whole, we do hope such a project will enhance student interest for neurolinguistics, cognitive science, neuroscience, and the empirical investigations of language that these disciplines offer.
Significance for the country
The proposed research will have significant impact on science, the society and the economy. At the scientific level, understanding the mechanisms of cognitive control that underlie language processing will highlight the relationship between language and cognition, and the degree to which they overlap in language comprehension. While it is generally argued that language computations are potentially supported by cognitive mechanisms, our knowledge with respect to how language and cognition interact in comprehension is sparse. This is the first study that attempts to investigate cognitive aspects of linguistic treatment in a comprehensive way. The project will contribute to the literature studying language treatment in language disorders resulting from focal brain damage and neurodegenerative diseases. Examining non-typical populations with language and/or cognitive control deficits will offer key evidence on the predictive power of cognitive parameters to language processing in general. Furthermore, this study will provide compelling evidence on whether behavioral intervention alone has the same long-lasting effects as when combined with rTMS. Researchers often embark on studies of the neurobiological impact of interventions without first investigating the effectiveness of the behavioral treatment. Importantly, the present study does not only aim to enhance individuals’ performance, regaining access to their linguistic abilities, but goes one step further by aiming to investigate whether specific interventions can change the trajectory of language decline in people with neurodegeneration (AD & MCI). The combination of the above (cognitive enhancement with brain-stimulation) as a means for language improvement together with the fact that this will be the first study that will report compelling evidence from Slovenian applying novel -for the Slovenian standards- methodologies, highlights the study’s unique contribution to the several scientific fields such as neurolinguistics, neuroscience and speech therapy.
Beyond the scientific value of the proposed research, the project will provide the opportunity to several graduate students to have research experience, establishing thus a hub for linguistically sophisticated psycho/neurolinguistic research in Slovenia. This will stimulate students' interest in these fields and will train future generations as inquisitive and critical scientists. Given that neurolinguistics is a new research area not only for the Department of Comparative and General Linguistics at the University of Ljubljana, but also for Slovenia as a whole, we do hope such a project will enhance student interest for neurolinguistics, cognitive science, neuroscience, and the empirical investigations of language that these disciplines offer.
Most important scientific results
Interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
