NARU
About the unit
The Neuroscience and Aphasia Research Unit (NARU), within the School of Psychological Sciences, is a highly innovative research unit whose work centres around 4 major themes.
Topics in each theme are all investigated using an interdisciplinary approach, and applying widely convergent research methods and techniques. Studies range from basic neuroscience (fMRI, MR tractography, TMS) to neuropsychological and clinically-applied investigations of both normal and neurological populations, including neurodegenerative disorders, stroke, traumatic brain injury and herpes simplex encephalitis.
For more details, see: Our publications
NARU News
19 July 2012: The following paper has been submitted:
- T. Ueno, S. Saito, K. Komori, I. Kitamura, N. Ichimi, M. Ikeda, and M.A. Lambon Ralph (submitted). 'SD-cubed: On the association of semantic dementia with phonemic surface dyslexia and pitch accent surface dyslexia in Japanese.'
28 June 2012: The following paper has been published:
- A. Almaghyuli, M.A. Lambon Ralph, & E. Jefferies (2012). "Deficits of semantic control produce absent or reverse frequency effects in comprehension: Evidence from neuropsychology and dual task methodology." Neuropsychologia, 50, 1968-1979. [doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2012.04.022]
NARU research themes
- Semantic cognition
Semantically-driven verbal and nonverbal behaviour made up of two interactive components: semantic representations (conceptual knowledge) and semantic control
- Normal and impaired language, conversation and social communication
Studies of communication in humans, ranging from conversation in aphasia to morality and depression
- Learning, neuroplasticity, and sleep
Studies of learning and neuroplasticity using computer-based modelling, behavioural studies and neuroimaging
- Clinical intervention in neuroscience and aphasia
Research relating to rehabilitation. We run a speech therapy clinic and our studies investigate a wide variety of clinical techniques and advances