Understanding how bilingualism affects language recovery after brain injury
Official title: Language-specific and language-general mechanisms in bilingual aphasic individuals
Funded at New York University · NIH-10867506 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how people who speak both Spanish and English recover their language skills after a brain injury, so we can find better ways to help them get their words back.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $238,301 |
| NIH project number | 5R00DC019973-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10867506 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are bilingual individuals who have experienced a brain injury and are seeking to improve their language recovery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are monolingual or have not suffered a brain injury may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how bilingual individuals process and recover language after brain injuries. By studying both healthy and aphasic Spanish-English bilinguals, the project aims to uncover the organization and interaction of languages in the brain. Using behavioral assessments and functional MRI, the researchers will explore which areas of the brain are crucial for language recovery and how different languages can be targeted in rehabilitation. The goal is to develop effective strategies for improving language function in bilingual patients following neurological damage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective rehabilitation strategies for bilingual individuals recovering from brain injuries.
How similar studies have gone: While research on bilingualism exists, this specific approach focusing on bilingual aphasia and recovery strategies is relatively novel and underexplored.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blanco-Elorrieta, Esti — New York University
- Study coordinator: Blanco-Elorrieta, Esti
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.