Current Lab Members
professor Patti Adank: Principal Investigator
My research focuses on the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying the robustness and flexibility of human spoken language The acoustic speech signal is inherently variable, for instance due to background noise, differences in speakers’ anatomy and physiology, speaking style, regional or socio-economic background, or language background. Yet speech perception remains remarkably stable, and listeners are even able to quickly adapt to novel variation sources of the acoustic signal, such as a speaker’s foreign or regional accent.
I combine behavioural and neuroimaging research. My behavioural research consists of studies on speech perception and production and my neuroimaging research focuses on the neural bases of on-line adaptation in spoken language comprehension and production. Past neuroimaging studies have reported the involvement of neural bases for speech production in speech comprehension tasks. However, this involvement is only present under adverse listening conditions, such as speech in noise, or when the signal has been distorted, for instance by time-compressing it. In my research I test the possibility that this involvement of production regions is specific to on-line adaptation and learning and underlies the robustness of human speech comprehension. My present and future research uses traditional psycholinguistic paradigms, and functional neuroimaging methods such as fMRI, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.
Recently, I got interested in the role of vocal imitation in speech and am exploring the possibility that both overt and covert imitation may optimise speech perception.
I combine behavioural and neuroimaging research. My behavioural research consists of studies on speech perception and production and my neuroimaging research focuses on the neural bases of on-line adaptation in spoken language comprehension and production. Past neuroimaging studies have reported the involvement of neural bases for speech production in speech comprehension tasks. However, this involvement is only present under adverse listening conditions, such as speech in noise, or when the signal has been distorted, for instance by time-compressing it. In my research I test the possibility that this involvement of production regions is specific to on-line adaptation and learning and underlies the robustness of human speech comprehension. My present and future research uses traditional psycholinguistic paradigms, and functional neuroimaging methods such as fMRI, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.
Recently, I got interested in the role of vocal imitation in speech and am exploring the possibility that both overt and covert imitation may optimise speech perception.
Han WanG: PhD Candidate
I am fascinated by the unparalleled ability of human listeners to maintain robust speech perception under, and quickly adapt to, diverse challenging listening conditions. My current project combines fMRI and TMS with behavioural methods to outline the neural networks associated with understanding speech in the presence of specific acoustic/cognitive distortions, and explore the dynamic relationship between individual speech perception, hearing ability and cognitive capacity. This line of studies may also foster the possibility of developing new therapeutic interventions that will be beneficial for individuals with impaired hearing and speech perception, e.g. following a stroke.
Before working with Profs Patti Adank and Stuart Rosen at UCL, I was interested in emotional speech, on which I did the projects of my BA Japanese at North China Institute of Science and Technology and MA Linguistics at Nagoya University.
Before working with Profs Patti Adank and Stuart Rosen at UCL, I was interested in emotional speech, on which I did the projects of my BA Japanese at North China Institute of Science and Technology and MA Linguistics at Nagoya University.
Hannah Wilt: phd CANDIDATE
Having always been fascinated by language learning and development, I came to UCL in 2015 to complete my BSc in Psychology and Language Sciences. Throughout the degree, I grew a particular interest in neuroscience, and am currently on the MRes Speech, Language and Cognition programme. My research investigates the involvement of the motor cortex in learning to perceive non-native speech sounds. My MRes project explores this mechanism through a behavioural paradigm utilising the stimulus-response compatibility task, while my PhD research will employ further methods including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and eventually machine learning.
Rongru Chen: PhD student
During my undergraduate study of applied linguistics at Jinan University, China, I developed a keen interest in speech. I was fascinated by the way small building blocks of speech sounds could be combined to create beautiful streams of speech. As I pursued my Master's degree in Language Sciences (Speech Sciences) at UCL, my interest in speech extended to a cognitive psychology perspective. I became intrigued by the cognitive mechanisms behind speech processing and collaborated with Prof. Patti Adank on a project examining the involvement of phonological processing in the perceptual adaptation of noise-vocoded speech. Now, for my PhD project, I aim to delve deeper into the dynamics of listening effort during the process of perceptual adaptation of noise-vocoded speech, using both behavioural paradigms and pupillometry. Furthermore, I plan to explore using brain stimulation methods to alleviate listening efforts.
XIYUAN LI: PHD STUDENT
I am interested in the intersection between auditory cognitive neuroscience and speech sciences. My passion lies in unraveling the complexities of how humans perceptually adapt to degraded speech signals such as noise-vocoded speech and neurologically degraded speech. My current research project explores listeners' perceptual learning of dysarthric speech using pupillometry, brain stimulation techniques and electromagnetic articulography.
Prior to joining UCL, I completed my BA in Linguistics and Speech Sciences at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and my MPhil in Linguistics at the University of Cambridge.
Prior to joining UCL, I completed my BA in Linguistics and Speech Sciences at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and my MPhil in Linguistics at the University of Cambridge.
Amy au: Final-YEar msci Student
I am an undergraduate UCL student in the MSci Psychology and Language Sciences course. Under the supervision of Patti and Hannah, my third-year research project is focused on investigating the effects of self-focus and motor difficulty on automatic imitation of manual actions. Additionally, I am assisting Hannah with her TMS research, which is focused on studying the involvement of the motor cortex's tongue areas during native and non-native speech perception.
Shutao Yi: MSC student
As a MSc student in Language Science, I am broadly fascinated by speech perception and cognitive auditory processing. My current research interests focus on robust processing in speech comprehension. Specifically, I am currently working with Prof. Patti Adank on the project in examining the role of semantic processing in understanding degraded speech. I am also interested in uncovering the role of the auditory factors (e.g., voice familiarity) that affects the perception of speech.
Yutong Ye: MSC student
I am a student in MSc Language Sciences programme (Neuroscience of Language and Speech route). Currently, I participate in the TMS project on covert imitation during passive listening of native and non-native speech as a second tester under the supervision of Prof. Patti Adank and Hannah. Previously, I studied English Language and Literature for my undergraduate degree and minored in Psychology at Beijing Normal University.
Mengxiao zhou: Msc student
I am a student in MSc Language Sciences programme (Development Language and Speech route). Under the supervision of Prof. Patti Adank, my ongoing project delves into the impact of semantic processing on the comprehension of degraded speech. Additionally, my curiosity extends to the prediction mechanisms underlying human language.
Collaborators
Dr Helen Nuttall: Lecturer in Psychology, Lancaster UNiversity
I am passionate about speech, ears, brainstems, and brains. I currently work on Dr Adank and Dr Devlin's grant: 'Investigating speech motor resonances in spoken language understanding'. As part of this grant, my research focuses on establishing the role of the motor system in speech perception, and how motor areas work in concert with auditory regions to assist speech perception under challenging listening conditions. TMS, in combination with behaviour and neurophysiology, affords us a unique insight into the function of the neurobiological substrates involved in the speech processing network. In my PhD, I looked at how speech is represented in the subcortical auditory system, and how the subcortical representation of speech is modulated by peripheral and cortical influences. I will combine TMS with EEG in my future work to study the peripheral, subcortical, and cortical linkages in speech processing in adverse listening conditions.
distinguished alumni
Post-doctoral researchers:
Dr Anthony Trotter - currently a teaching fellow at KCL
Dr Helen Nuttal - currently a lecturer at Lancaster University
Dr Sylvia Vitello - currently a researcher at Cambridge University Press and Assessment
PhD students:
Dr Yuchunzi (Shego) Wu - currently a postdoctoral researcher at New York University Shanghai
Dr Gwijde Maegherman - currently a lecturer at Queen Mary University of London
Dr Maximilian Paulus - currently a data scientist at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Dr Dan Kennedy-Higgins - currently a teaching fellow at KCL
Julie Joubert - currently a research assistant at UCL
MSc and MRes students:
Rina Cheng - MSc Language Sciences
Shengyue Xiong - MSc Language Sciences
Rongru Chen - MSc Language Sciences
Yu Yan - MSc Language Sciences
Alanoud Aldhuwaihy - MSc Language Sciences
Eliza Langenbach- MSc Language Sciences
Hayley Tseng - MSc Student
Anna Krivoshlykova - MSc Student
Grace Washbourn - MSc Speech and Language Sciences
Adam Ruzicka - MRes SLC
Jasmine Virhia - MSc Language Sciences
Amy Hall - MSc Language Sciences
BSc students:
Luqman Tajul Azmir - BSc Psychology and Language
Anne-Charlotte Ziegler - BSc Psychology and Language
Dr Anthony Trotter - currently a teaching fellow at KCL
Dr Helen Nuttal - currently a lecturer at Lancaster University
Dr Sylvia Vitello - currently a researcher at Cambridge University Press and Assessment
PhD students:
Dr Yuchunzi (Shego) Wu - currently a postdoctoral researcher at New York University Shanghai
Dr Gwijde Maegherman - currently a lecturer at Queen Mary University of London
Dr Maximilian Paulus - currently a data scientist at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Dr Dan Kennedy-Higgins - currently a teaching fellow at KCL
Julie Joubert - currently a research assistant at UCL
MSc and MRes students:
Rina Cheng - MSc Language Sciences
Shengyue Xiong - MSc Language Sciences
Rongru Chen - MSc Language Sciences
Yu Yan - MSc Language Sciences
Alanoud Aldhuwaihy - MSc Language Sciences
Eliza Langenbach- MSc Language Sciences
Hayley Tseng - MSc Student
Anna Krivoshlykova - MSc Student
Grace Washbourn - MSc Speech and Language Sciences
Adam Ruzicka - MRes SLC
Jasmine Virhia - MSc Language Sciences
Amy Hall - MSc Language Sciences
BSc students:
Luqman Tajul Azmir - BSc Psychology and Language
Anne-Charlotte Ziegler - BSc Psychology and Language