CSAND Lab joins OHSU

We are delighted to announce that the Communication & Speech Analysis in Neurocognitive Diagnoses Lab (CSAND) is joining forces with Oregon Health & Science University’s (OHSU) Layton Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Center! This partnership unites our expertise in computational modeling and network analysis with the Layton Center’s distinguished leadership in dementia care and research. The…

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Future Research Ideas in Neurocognitive Communication

As a researcher in the field of neurocognitive communication, I’m constantly exploring new avenues for investigation. Below, I’ve compiled a list of potential research or related ideas that I’m considering for future projects. While I can’t pursue all of these simultaneously, I’m sharing them in hopes of inspiring collaboration or sparking interest in these areas—if…

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Exploring Socioemotional Function Tests in Neurology

In the field of neurology, assessing socioemotional function is crucial for diagnosing and understanding various neurological disorders, particularly in cases like frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. This blog post explores some of the key tests and resources available for evaluating social cognition and emotional processing in neurological patients. Socioemotional Function in Neurological Disorders…

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Rethinking Facial Expressions

Our lab doesn’t just focus on speech and language, but also facial expressions and other “paralinguistic” aspects of communication that layer emotion onto the words people say. As we do so, we go into further depth than is often included in even neurological education.   For example, classic organization of movement in the brain shows…

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Exploring the TARDBP I383V Variant of Frontotemporal Dementia

Our research team, part of the ALLFTD consortium, is excited to share recent findings on a relatively unknown genetic variant, TARDBP I383V. This gene selectively impacts the temporal lobes causing semantic dementia, in which people lose meaning of words, faces, and more.  Semantic dementia has rarely been considered to have a genetic component, though this…

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