Understanding how brain structure relates to language function
Official title: Structure-function correspondence in the cortical organization of language
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11165550 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different parts of the brain work together to help us understand and use language, and it aims to find out which areas are most important for people with language difficulties.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $49,538 |
| NIH project number | 1F31DC022801-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11165550 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who have experienced acquired brain injuries affecting their language abilities.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with language disorders not related to structural brain changes may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the organization of language areas in the brain, focusing on how structural characteristics correspond to their functional roles. Using advanced fMRI techniques, the study aims to identify specific brain regions responsible for language processing by analyzing both local architectural features and long-range connectivity. The research employs a predictive framework to enhance the accuracy of localizing these language areas, which could improve clinical practices for individuals with language disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better diagnostic tools and treatment strategies for patients with language impairments due to brain injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in using fMRI to localize brain functions, suggesting that this approach may yield significant insights into language processing.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Belisle, Rebecca Michele — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Belisle, Rebecca Michele
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Creating a detailed map of early lung cancer changes
This study is looking at early changes in lung tissue that can lead to cancer, specifically focusing on common types of lung cancer, and it's for patients who want to help researchers understand these changes better so they can improve early detection and treatment.
-
Telomere trouble in ALT cancers: what causes damage and how it happens
Researchers are studying why some cancer cells use ALT to lengthen telomeres and how replication stress damages telomeres, aiming to uncover key processes that could be targeted in patients.
-
IL-6 signaling, lung injury, and post-TB lung disease in TB/HIV
This grant tests how a specific immune signal (IL-6) relates to lung damage after tuberculosis in people with and without HIV, aiming to understand who is at risk for lasting lung problems.
-
IL-6 signaling and lung injury after TB and HIV co-infection
This project looks at how a common immune signal called IL-6 relates to lung injury after TB treatment, especially in people who also have HIV.
-
LEAD Africa: advancing Alzheimer’s research across Africa
A new project aims to build Alzheimer’s disease research capabilities in Africa to improve understanding and care for people with dementia.
-
Leading AD and related dementias research in Africa
A multi-country effort aims to build Africa’s capacity to study Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias using scalable, low-cost methods.
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.