Theme 1: Language and communication

Research in Donders Theme 1: Language and communication aims to understand the complexity of human language faculty and its development at the behavioural, cognitive, and neural levels in healthy individuals as well as in populations with dysfunction in linguistic and communication skills.

Our approach

Our researchers adopt a multilevel approach from genes to neurons, brain, cognition, interaction, and society. This broad approach to language also forms the basis in understanding language breakdowns as in acquired or developmental language disorders and to devise clinical applications and solutions to enhance language and communication skills in society for minority groups such as immigrants, hard of hearing etc. as well as for communication in crisis times (i.e, COVID19 era).

Contact

Each of the four research themes of the Donders Institute has a Theme Leader. They coordinate discussions on subjects, host theme meetings and take part in the Research Platform to discuss strategic policy aspects. Contact theme leader Stephanie Forkel or secretary Nicola Rijzewijk if you want to know more. Andrea Martin and Mark Dingemanse are panel members of this theme.

Stephanie ForkelNicola Rijzewijk

Research groups linked to this theme

Ardi Roelofs

Attention and Language Performance

Ardi Roelofs

Attention and Language Performance
Stephanie Forkel

Clinical Neuroanatomy of Language

Stephanie Forkel

Clinical Neuroanatomy of Language
Mirjam Broersma

Cognitive and Developmental Aspects of Multilingualism

Mirjam Broersma

Cognitive and Developmental Aspects of Multilingualism
Portretfoto Sharon Unsworth

Cognitive and Developmental Aspects of Multilingualism

Sharon Unsworth

Cognitive and Developmental Aspects of Multilingualism
Donders Institute brain language and communication

Cognitive and Developmental Aspects of Multilingualism

Ton Dijkstra

Cognitive and Developmental Aspects of Multilingualism
Judith Holler

Communication in Social Interaction (CoSI)

Judith Holler

Communication in Social Interaction (CoSI)
Donders Institute brain language and communication

Contextual Flexibility in Language Processing

Herbert Schriefers

Contextual Flexibility in Language Processing
Wim Pouw

Dynamic Signs and Signals (Dynamos)

Wim Pouw

Dynamic Signs and Signals (Dynamos)
Paula Fikkert

First Language Acquisition

Paula Fikkert

First Language Acquisition
Donders Institute brain language and communication

Grammar and Cognition

Peter de Swart

Grammar and Cognition
Stefan Frank

Grammar and Cognition

Stefan Frank

Grammar and Cognition
Ivan Toni

Intention & Action

Ivan Toni

Intention & Action
Enny Das

Language and Communication

Enny Das

Language and Communication
Andrea Martin

Language and Computation in Neural Systems

Andrea Martin

Language and Computation in Neural Systems
Mark Dingemanse

Language and Social Interaction

Mark Dingemanse

Language and Social Interaction
Helmer Strik

Language and Speech, Learning and Therapy

Helmer Strik

Language and Speech, Learning and Therapy
Caroline Rowland

Language Development

Caroline Rowland

Asli Özyürek
Vitoria Piai

Language Function and Dysfunction

Vitória Piai

Language Function and Dysfunction
Asli Özyürek

Multimodal Language and Cognition

Asli Özyürek

Multimodal Language and Cognition
Peter Hagoort

Neurobiology of Language

Peter Hagoort

Neurobiology of Language
Portret van Kristin Lemhofer

Cognition of Multilingualism

Kristin Lemhöfer

Cognition of Multilingualism
Simon Fisher

Neurogenetics of Speech and Language

Simon Fisher

Neurogenetics of Speech and Language
Antje Meyer

Psychology of Language

Antje Meyer

Psychology of Language
James McQueen

Sound Learning

James McQueen

Sound Learning
Hans Rutger Bosker

Speech Perception in Audiovisual Communication (SPEAC)

Hans Rutger Bosker

Speech Perception in Audiovisual Communication (SPEAC)
Linda Drijvers

The Communicative Brain

Linda Drijvers

The Communicative Brain
Beate Pourcain

Population genetics of human communication

Beate St. Pourcain

Population genetics of human communication