Understanding how the brain processes spoken language in people with aphasia after a stroke
Official title: Reliability and validity of temporal response function modeling in aphasia
Funded at University of Houston · NIH-10991805 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how people with stroke-related language difficulties understand spoken words by measuring their brain activity, and it aims to create a new way to better understand their listening skills without needing them to answer questions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $198,356 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DC021497-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10991805 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults who have experienced a stroke and are currently facing challenges with auditory comprehension due to aphasia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have aphasia or have not experienced a stroke may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how individuals with stroke-induced aphasia comprehend spoken language by analyzing their brain responses to continuous speech using electroencephalography (EEG). The study aims to develop a new method, called temporal response function modeling, which allows researchers to objectively assess auditory comprehension without requiring participants to respond overtly. By examining the neural correlates of auditory comprehension, the research seeks to identify specific deficits and improve clinical assessments and treatments for aphasia. This approach is designed to provide a more accurate understanding of language processing in everyday communication contexts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better diagnostic tools and treatment strategies for individuals with aphasia, ultimately improving their communication abilities and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using EEG and similar modeling techniques to assess language processing, indicating that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dial, Heather — University of Houston
- Study coordinator: Dial, Heather
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Communication Bridge: Improving language therapy for people with primary progressive aphasia
A proven language-therapy program called Communication Bridge helps people with primary progressive aphasia improve and maintain how they communicate with others.
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Neural signals linked to recovery from aphasia after stroke
This grant follows people who recently had a stroke and aphasia to understand why some recover language abilities better than others.
-
Bilingualism and language resilience in Hispanic people with primary progressive aphasia
Researchers compare different bilingual experiences to see how they relate to language decline and thinking skills in Hispanic adults with primary progressive aphasia.
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Functional reorganization of language and general brain networks in aphasia
This project studies how language areas and general brain networks work together to help people recover language after a stroke, by looking at brain activity and responses to language tasks.
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eSANA: revealing and improving AAC use after stroke for aphasia
A project to explore how people with aphasia after a stroke can best use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) during early rehabilitation.
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Cortical Organization of Syntax in Aphasia
A patient-facing study to understand how brain injury affects sentence structure and help people with aphasia communicate more clearly.
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.