Research

Researchers at the Center for the Study of Learning (CSL) use behavioral and neuroimaging data to investigate a variety of topics regarding learning and learning disabilities.

We conduct behavioral and neuroimaging research to examine how typical reading occurs in the brain and to better understand the origins of developmental dyslexia. We compare neuroimaging data of people with dyslexia to typical readers to characterize differences in brain function and structure. We also examine how training or intervention programs lead to changes in behavior and the brain. 

Turkeltaub, P. E., Gareau, L., Flowers, D. L., Zeffiro, T. A., & Eden, G. F. (2003). Development of neural mechanisms for reading. Nature Neuroscience, 6(7), 767–773. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1065

Krafnick, A. J., Flowers, D. L., Luetje, M. M., Napoliello, E. M., & Eden, G. F. (2014). An investigation into the origin of anatomical differences in dyslexia. The Journal of Neuroscience : The Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 34(3), 901–908. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2092-13.2013

Krafnick, A. J., Flowers, D. L., Napoliello, E. M., & Eden, G. F. (2011). Gray matter volume changes following reading intervention in dyslexic children. Neuroimage, 57(3), 733–741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.10.062.Gray

Eden, G. F., Jones, K. M., Cappell, K., Gareau, L., Wood, F. B., Zeffiro, T. A., … Flowers, D. L. (2004). Neural changes following remediation in adult developmental dyslexia. Neuron, 44(3), 411–422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2004.10.019

We conduct research to examine how language experience (specifically bilingualism) affects brain structure and function. We also study the interaction between bilingualism and reading ability, and other cognitive skill sets such as executive functioning. 

Jamal, N. I., Piche, A. W., Napoliello, E. M., Perfetti, C. A., & Eden, G. F. (2012). Neural basis of single-word reading in Spanish-English bilinguals. Human Brain Mapping, 33(1), 235–245. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.21208

Olulade, O. A., Jamal, N. I., Koo, D. S., Perfetti, C. A., LaSasso, C., & Eden, G. F. (2016). Neuroanatomical evidence in support of the bilingual advantage theory. Cerebral Cortex, 26(7), 3196–3204. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhv152

We conduct behavioral and neuroimaging research to understand the relationship between math and reading in the brain, particularly in those with learning disabilities. Using training interventions and neuroimaging methods, we seek to understand the brain bases of math learning disabilities (dyscalculia) and to investigate the bases of comorbidity between math and reading disabilities.

Evans, T. M., Flowers, D. L., Luetje, M. M., Napoliello, E., & Eden, G. F. (2016). Functional neuroanatomy of arithmetic and word reading and its relationship to age. NeuroImage, 143, 304–315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.08.048

Evans, T. M., Flowers, D. L., Napoliello, E. M., Olulade, O. A., & Eden, G. F. (2014). The functional anatomy of single-digit arithmetic in children with developmental dyslexia. NeuroImage, 101, 644–652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.07.028

We've studied the neural basis of spelling, and how reading and spelling may have shared and distinct neural representations.

Purcell, J. J., Jiang, X., & Eden, G. F. (2017). Shared orthographic neuronal representations for spelling and reading. NeuroImage, 147, 554–567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.12.054

Purcell, J. J., Napoliello, E. M., & Eden, G. F. (2011). A combined fMRI study of typed spelling and reading. NeuroImage, 55(2), 750–762. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.11.042

We've examined how sensorimotor systems develop and how they may be linked to reading and dyslexia.

Turesky, T. K., Turkeltaub, P. E., & Eden, G. F. (2016). An activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis study of simple motor movements in older and young adults. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 8(238), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2016.00238

Olulade, O. A., Napoliello, E. M., & Eden, G. F. (2013). Abnormal visual motion processing is not a cause of dyslexia. Neuron, 79(1), 180–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2013.05.002

We've conducted research that examines how sensory experience (e.g. deafness) is related to neuroplastic differences in the brain.

Olulade, O. A., Koo, D. S., LaSasso, C. J., & Eden, G. F. (2014). Neuroanatomical profiles of deafness in the context of native language experience. The Journal of Neuroscience, 34(16), 5613–5620. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3700-13.2014.

Weisberg, J., Koo, D. S., Crain, K. L., & Eden, G. F. (2012). Cortical plasticity for visuospatial processing and object recognition in deaf and hearing signers. NeuroImage, 60(1), 661–672. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.12.031