Professor Yang Zhang

The overall goal of research in the Zhang Lab is to characterize brain plasticity across the life span, define what the neural signature markers are for normal and pathological development of speech and language, and create new methods and tools to overcome barriers in learning. Three populations for speech-language-hearing research are represented, namely, developmental, cross-linguistic, and pathological. The researchers rely on behavioral experimental protocols and brain imaging tools such as high-density electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG), integrated with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and functional MRI (fMRI), to examine regional temporal and spatial details and cross-region interactions for different levels of information processing and performance. They also apply computational models (including machine learning) to investigate specific aspects of information processing in language and social/affective cognition in association with developmental changes, sensory deprivation, and various physical/physiological conditions. This interdisciplinary research aims at an insightful examination of the relationship between brain and behavior with a focus on studying the language input, learning/coding mechanisms, and individual differences that make the sonic and optical experiences uniquely human in service of communicative functions.