Language, besides being one of the most fundamental cognitive abilities we possess, stands out as a uniquely human and highly sophisticated capacity. Language acquisition and language comprehension rely on highly complex cognitive processes that are not yet fully understood, although research indicates the human brain has a natural predisposition to learn and use language. So, how does our brain learn language? What are the neural underpinnings that enable our ability for language comprehension and speech? As children learn language, what role do the developing brain's structure and functioning play in this process? How do individual differences affect language learning and processing?
In this program, we will examine language learning, comprehension, and production from a neuroscience framework. In the first session, we will discuss the fundamental structures and organization of language in the brain, and how these processes are monitored using modern neuroimaging techniques (EEG, MEG, fMRI, fNIRS). In the second session, cognitive models explaining how the brain processes and interprets language will be addressed, the role of brain oscillations in language processing will be examined, and the effect of auditory-visual cues on language processing will be evaluated. In the final session, we will cover language development and individual differences, examining the processes from childhood to adulthood and the neural and cognitive bases of language disorders.
This three-session course program aims to address language acquisition, processing, and usage processes in light of current research and neuroscientific findings. The program is open to all participants interested in fields such as neuroscience, cognitive science, (psycho)linguistics, and developmental psychology.
Our instructor, Dr. Melis Çetinçelik, graduated from Koç University's Psychology and Philosophy departments, then pursued her master's degree in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Amsterdam. After completing her doctorate in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience and Language Development at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics-Radboud University, she conducted her postdoctoral research on multimodal language processing at Tilburg University. She is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Maastricht University's Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.
The course program will take place online via Zoom on Wednesdays, November 26, December 3, and December 10, from 19:30 to 22:30 (GMT+3). It will last approximately 9 hours in total. Please note that the course will be conducted in Turkish.
Week 1 (November 26): Neural Foundations of Language and Neuroimaging Techniques
- Introduction to language and cognitive processes
- Brain structures and networks related to language
- Neuroimaging techniques: EEG, MEG, fMRI, fNIRS
- Language and speech disorders
In this session, we will cover the fundamental structures and functions of language in the brain. We will examine modern neuroimaging techniques and their role in understanding language processes; we will also evaluate the effects of language disorders and brain damage on language and communication skills.
Week 2 (December 3): Language Processing Mechanisms, Brain Oscillations, and Cognitive Neuroscience Models
- Language comprehension and production
- Processing of speech, syntax, and semantics
- The role of brain oscillations in language processing
- Audio-visual language: integration of auditory and visual cues
- The brain's language processing mechanisms and neurocognitive models of language
In this session, we will examine how the brain processes and interprets language at different levels. We will cover how brain oscillations are observed with EEG and MEG and their role in speech and language processing. Additionally, we will discuss the contribution of auditory and visual cues to language processing. We will evaluate cognitive neuroscience models that explain how language is represented and processed in the brain.
Week 3 (December 10): Language Development and Individual Differences
- Language development: from infancy to childhood
- Critical periods for language learning and environmental influences
- Mechanisms influencing language learning in the brain, neural plasticity
- Language disorders and learning differences
- Implications of current research for educational and clinical applications
In this session, we will address language development and individual differences from a neuroscientific perspective. We will examine the neural foundations of language learning processes from childhood to adulthood. We will evaluate language disorders and learning differences within the framework of the brain's language processing mechanisms and touch upon the impacts of current research on educational and clinical applications.
The fee for the course is 1500 TL per person (VAT included). Payment information will be shared via e-mail with participants whose applications are approved as soon as possible. Please note that the course will be conducted in Turkish.
