Right Brain Cognitive-Linguistics Lab

The Right Brain Cognitive-Linguistics Lab (RBCLL) is dedicated to understanding the communication impairments, particularly those concerning language production, that can occur following acquired damage to the right hemisphere of the brain. We are dedicated to improving the functional impact of these impairments on the quality of life of survivors, their loved ones and caregivers, which is accomplished with the support of survivors, community partners and educational partners.

Our goal is to engage in research that will enhance knowledge of communication changes following right hemisphere brain damage by:

1. Identifying characteristics of language production during structured and unstructured language production tasks for improved diagnostic outcomes
2. Contributing to the discovery and understanding of brain-behavior relationships for language production using neuroimaging
3. Participating in client-centered and driven discussions with the right brain damage community (survivors, family, friends and support entities).

Our research is supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Deafness and Communication Disorders NIH/NIDCD 3R01-DC008524-11S1; Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health, National Office of Research on Women’s Health NIH/ORWH 2K12-HD043446-16; Research Centers for Minority Institutions (RCMI), and National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities NIH-NIMH-RCMI 5U54MD012392-0.

Team Members

Research Coordinator

Marcia Rodriguez, MA, CCC-SLP

Current Graduate Researchers

Mallory Parke, MS Candidate
Jada Elleby, MS Candidate
Megan Hollembaek, MS Candidate

Former Graduate Researchers

Sarah Baker, CCC-SLP
Kayla Valentine, CCC-SLP
Taravia McLawhorn, CCC-SLP
Jennifer Nelthropp, CCC-SLP
Julia Black, CCC-SLP
Kaitlynne Julie Bryan, CCC-SLP
Whitney Hewitt, CCC-SLP
Juliet Bourgeois-Berwyn, CCC-SLP
Stephanie Furimsky, CCC-SLP
Samantha Tyson, CCC-SLP
Leilani Burgess, CCC-SLP
Sarah Stidham, CCC-SLP
Ashton Wainright, CCC-SLP
Frank Brown, CCC-SLP
Traci Bright, CCC-SLP
Olivia DeStefano, MS candidate

Contact Us

1103 H.M. Michaux. Jr. Building
700 Cecil Street
Durham, NC 27707
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 919-530-7096 (Lab)
Fax: 919-530-7975