How the human brain supports language in different ways (360G-Wellcome-224562_Z_21_Z)

My ambition is to generate a neurological model that incorporates the many different ways that the brain can support language functions. Recovery from aphasia will then be formulated in terms of: (A) the availability of brain structures that could learn to support a lost function; and (B) factors that determine whether of not patients engage these structures. In three work- packages, I will study very large samples of patients recovering from aphasia in the first weeks and months post-stroke. (1) Task-based fMRI will identify the neural systems supporting each of 13 language tasks in patients who have damage to different parts of the normal language system. (2) Anatomical MRI, with biophysical modelling, will investigate changes in tissue microstructure (e.g. iron levels, free water and neuronal density) and ask whether these changes occur in peri-lesional tissue and/or the neural systems observed with fMRI. (3) The multiple non-lesion factors affecting early recovery (e.g. co- occurring cognitive impairments, clinical interventions, physical and mental health) will be investigated, controlling for lesion-site. The neural systems identified in Work-package 1 will be incorporated into neurological models of language. Work-packages 2 and 3 will identify the factors that influence whether or not these systems are engaged during recovery.