Understanding how the brain represents the meanings of words
Official title: Neural Representation of Lexical Concepts
Funded at Medical College of Wisconsin · NIH-11039930 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the brain understands the meanings of words, especially for people with language challenges like aphasia, to help create better treatments for those who have trouble with language.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $403,014 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC020932-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11039930 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with acquired language disorders, particularly those experiencing aphasia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without language impairments or those with developmental language disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the brain encodes the meanings of words, particularly for individuals with acquired language disorders like aphasia. By examining different patterns of semantic impairments, the study aims to identify how various features of experience, such as perception and emotion, contribute to word meaning. The researchers will develop a model based on human ratings of these features to better understand the neural activity associated with specific words. This could lead to improved interventions for patients struggling with language processing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance treatment strategies for individuals with language disorders, improving their communication abilities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding semantic processing in the brain, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fernandino, Leonardo F — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Fernandino, Leonardo F
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.