My Project

Modern neuroimaging methods allow the study of human brain function repeatedly over the course of days, months and years without the need for radioactive tracers. In particular, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), allows the non-invasive study of sensory-motor and higher order processing in human subjects, allowing insights into the brain areas involved in the development of human speech, auditory processing, language and comprehension. As the role of the different brain areas in language and literacy is understood, fMRI may also allow us to separate disorders that originate from disease or developmental problems from those that are not neuroanatomic in origin. In the future, neuroimaging approaches may be used to help decide on the appropriate approach to be taken in language and literacy remediation. The objective of this Core Facility project is to provide a neuroimaging resource and expertise for researcher within the Network to perform human brain imaging studies that are relevant to the Theme 1 objectives and the Network’s goals. More specifically, two imaging centres will be available, which will be as similar as possible, one at The University of Western Ontario and the other at the University of Alberta. These facilities will provide the necessary tools, expertise and access to CLLRNet researchers in Western and Eastern Canada who wish to use fMRI for the study of hearing, speech, vision, language and comprehension.