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Brain and language lab

Our group aims at better understanding the brain functional and structural bases of speech and language, and of language-related learning. We use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) to study the brain functional bases of language and multilingualism, with an emphasis on specific language components such as phonology and grammar, but also on the interplay between non-linguistic functions and second language usage such as during simultaneous interpretation. We also use anatomical MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in order to uncover normative and expertise-related brain structure-behaviour relationships. We look for convergence across functional and structural imaging methods in order to better understand how the brain changes both functionally as well as structurally due to language learning and expertise. Finally, we aim to elucidate the relative contributions of experience versus of pre-existing, possibly innate influences on individual differences in linguistic/auditory skills and brain function/structure.

Group's publications

Bilingual speech-in-noise: Neural bases of semantic context use in the native language.
BRAIN AND LANGUAGE
2014 vol. 132C pp. 1-6
ADELMAN A, PEFKOU M, GOLESTANI N

fMRI of Simultaneous Interpretation Reveals the Neural Basis of Extreme Language Control.
CEREBRAL CORTEX
2014 vol. pp. 0-
ADELMAN A, MOSER-MERCER B, MICHEL CM, GOLESTANI N

The Pathways for Intelligible Speech: Multivariate and Univariate Perspectives.
CEREBRAL CORTEX
2014 vol. 24(9) pp. 2350-2361
EVANS S, KYONG JS, ROSEN S, GOLESTANI N, WARREN JE, MCGETTIGAN C, MOURÃO-MIRANDA J, WISE RJ, SCOTT SK

Connectivity changes underlying neurofeedback training of visual cortex activity.
PLOS ONE
2014 vol. 9(3) pp. 91090-91090
SCHARNOWSKI F, ROSA MJ, GOLESTANI N, HUTTON C, JOSEPHS O, WEISKOPF N, REES G

Brain structural correlates of individual differences at low to high levels of the language processing hierarchy: A review of new approaches to bilingualism research
THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BILINGUALISM
2014 vol. 18(1) pp. 6-34
GOLESTANI N

Semantic versus perceptual interactions in neural processing of speech-in-noise.
NEUROIMAGE
2013 vol. 79 pp. 52-61
GOLESTANI N, ADELMAN A, OBLESER J, SCOTT SK

Born with an ear for dialects? Structural plasticity in the expert phonetician brain.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
2011 vol. 31(11) pp. 4213-4220
GOLESTANI N, PRICE CJ, SCOTT SK

Adults with dyslexia are impaired in categorizing speech and nonspeech sounds on the basis of temporal cues.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
2010 vol. 107(23) pp. 10389-10394
VANDERMOSTEN M, BOETS B, LUTS H, POELMANS H, GOLESTANI N, WOUTERS J, GHESQUIÈRE P

Native-language benefit for understanding speech-in-noise: The contribution of semantics.
BILINGUALISM: LANGUAGE AND COGNITION
2009 vol. 12(3) pp. 385-392
GOLESTANI N, ROSEN S, SCOTT SK

Individual differences in the acquisition of second language phonology.
BRAIN AND LANGUAGE
2009 vol. 109(2-3) pp. 55-67
GOLESTANI N, ZATORRE RJ

In vivo evidence for the selective subcortical degeneration in Huntington's disease.
NEUROIMAGE
2009 vol. 46(4) pp. 958-966
DOUAUD G AND AL.

Human subinsular asymmetry studied by diffusion tensor imaging and fiber tracking.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NEURORADIOLOGY
2007 vol. 28(8) pp. 1526-1531
RODRIGO S, NAGGARA O, OPPENHEIM C, GOLESTANI N, POUPON C, COINTEPAS Y, MANGIN JF, LE BIHAN D, MEDER JF

Anatomical correlates of foreign speech sound production.
CEREBRAL CORTEX
2007 vol. 17(4) pp. 929-934
GOLESTANI N, PALLIER C

Brain structure predicts the learning of foreign speech sounds.
CEREBRAL CORTEX
2007 vol. 17(3) pp. 575-582
GOLESTANI N, MOLKO N, DEHAENE S, LEBIHAN D, PALLIER C

Uncinate fasciculus fiber tracking in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Initial findings.
EUROPEAN RADIOLOGY
2007 vol. 17(7) pp. 1663-1668
RODRIGO S, OPPENHEIM C, CHASSOUX F, GOLESTANI N, COINTEPAS Y, POUPON C, SEMAH F, MANGIN JF, LE BIHAN D, MEDER JF

Research's domains




DATABASE-RESEARCH	GROUP OF CLINICAL PATIENT RESEARCH

Mme Narly Golestani	Head of group CV	Research subject	Members of the group


	Links about the group Prof. Narly Golestani Brain and Language Lab Neuroscience, Campus Biotech Case Postale 60 1211 Genève 20 Narly.Golestani@unige.ch Tel.: +41 22 379 53 52 Group's web site / department Comments Pages updated the 17.11.2015		Reseach's subject \| Group's publications \| Research's domains Brain and language lab Our group aims at better understanding the brain functional and structural bases of speech and language, and of language-related learning. We use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) to study the brain functional bases of language and multilingualism, with an emphasis on specific language components such as phonology and grammar, but also on the interplay between non-linguistic functions and second language usage such as during simultaneous interpretation. We also use anatomical MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in order to uncover normative and expertise-related brain structure-behaviour relationships. We look for convergence across functional and structural imaging methods in order to better understand how the brain changes both functionally as well as structurally due to language learning and expertise. Finally, we aim to elucidate the relative contributions of experience versus of pre-existing, possibly innate influences on individual differences in linguistic/auditory skills and brain function/structure. Group's publications Bilingual speech-in-noise: Neural bases of semantic context use in the native language. BRAIN AND LANGUAGE 2014 vol. 132C pp. 1-6 ADELMAN A, PEFKOU M, GOLESTANI N fMRI of Simultaneous Interpretation Reveals the Neural Basis of Extreme Language Control. CEREBRAL CORTEX 2014 vol. pp. 0- ADELMAN A, MOSER-MERCER B, MICHEL CM, GOLESTANI N The Pathways for Intelligible Speech: Multivariate and Univariate Perspectives. CEREBRAL CORTEX 2014 vol. 24(9) pp. 2350-2361 EVANS S, KYONG JS, ROSEN S, GOLESTANI N, WARREN JE, MCGETTIGAN C, MOURÃO-MIRANDA J, WISE RJ, SCOTT SK Connectivity changes underlying neurofeedback training of visual cortex activity. PLOS ONE 2014 vol. 9(3) pp. 91090-91090 SCHARNOWSKI F, ROSA MJ, GOLESTANI N, HUTTON C, JOSEPHS O, WEISKOPF N, REES G Brain structural correlates of individual differences at low to high levels of the language processing hierarchy: A review of new approaches to bilingualism research THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BILINGUALISM 2014 vol. 18(1) pp. 6-34 GOLESTANI N Semantic versus perceptual interactions in neural processing of speech-in-noise. NEUROIMAGE 2013 vol. 79 pp. 52-61 GOLESTANI N, ADELMAN A, OBLESER J, SCOTT SK Born with an ear for dialects? Structural plasticity in the expert phonetician brain. JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE 2011 vol. 31(11) pp. 4213-4220 GOLESTANI N, PRICE CJ, SCOTT SK Adults with dyslexia are impaired in categorizing speech and nonspeech sounds on the basis of temporal cues. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 2010 vol. 107(23) pp. 10389-10394 VANDERMOSTEN M, BOETS B, LUTS H, POELMANS H, GOLESTANI N, WOUTERS J, GHESQUIÈRE P Native-language benefit for understanding speech-in-noise: The contribution of semantics. BILINGUALISM: LANGUAGE AND COGNITION 2009 vol. 12(3) pp. 385-392 GOLESTANI N, ROSEN S, SCOTT SK Individual differences in the acquisition of second language phonology. BRAIN AND LANGUAGE 2009 vol. 109(2-3) pp. 55-67 GOLESTANI N, ZATORRE RJ In vivo evidence for the selective subcortical degeneration in Huntington's disease. NEUROIMAGE 2009 vol. 46(4) pp. 958-966 DOUAUD G AND AL. Human subinsular asymmetry studied by diffusion tensor imaging and fiber tracking. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NEURORADIOLOGY 2007 vol. 28(8) pp. 1526-1531 RODRIGO S, NAGGARA O, OPPENHEIM C, GOLESTANI N, POUPON C, COINTEPAS Y, MANGIN JF, LE BIHAN D, MEDER JF Anatomical correlates of foreign speech sound production. CEREBRAL CORTEX 2007 vol. 17(4) pp. 929-934 GOLESTANI N, PALLIER C Brain structure predicts the learning of foreign speech sounds. CEREBRAL CORTEX 2007 vol. 17(3) pp. 575-582 GOLESTANI N, MOLKO N, DEHAENE S, LEBIHAN D, PALLIER C Uncinate fasciculus fiber tracking in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Initial findings. EUROPEAN RADIOLOGY 2007 vol. 17(7) pp. 1663-1668 RODRIGO S, OPPENHEIM C, CHASSOUX F, GOLESTANI N, COINTEPAS Y, POUPON C, SEMAH F, MANGIN JF, LE BIHAN D, MEDER JF Research's domains