Research Centre & Core Research Platform
The Centre for Advanced Research in Experimental and Applied Linguistics (ARiEAL) excels in problem-driven research in fundamental, experimental, and applied language sciences. Straddling the worlds of Health Sciences, Sciences, Engineering, and Humanities, ARiEAL is host to interdisciplinary research that combines human health, culture, societal, clinical, and community. ARiEAL’s research provides a deeper understanding of the impact of language on human interactions, well-being, and cognitive abilities and impacts the lives of peoples around the world with disabilities, physical, and/or mental health concerns.
ARiEAL members are experts on 1. mechanisms of normal and atypical reading behaviour, 2. word recognition and speech comprehension, 3. language learning mechanisms, 3. language and language structure, 4. simultaneous recording of EEG and fMRI and EEG and eye movement activity.
With a history of working with Indigenous communities (e.g., partnerships with Onkwawén:na Kentyóhkwa; Oneida Language Committee; Neyekwawetaokwáhshek Tuscarora Language Program), organizations of older adults (e.g., McMaster Institute for Research on Aging, MIRA; “Writing Through Time”, The Reading Lab), people with disabilities (e.g., communication disorders, reading disabilities), and linguistic minorities (e.g., Crimean Tatar, Mohawk, Oneida, Tuscona), ARiEAL’s experts have played significant roles enhancing ethical and inclusive research practices and providing expertise on socially impactful research programs that are guided by, for, and provide benefits to underserved communities around the world.
Research Services
- Specialized equipment & laboratories: ARiEAL has specialized equipment and laboratories, including eye trackers, electroencephalograms (EEG), soundproof recording booth, and interview and focus group laboratories. These can be used by academic and non-academic users that wish to conduct their own experiments but do not have access to their own specialised and high-cost equipment and space. Support with technical setup can be provided by ARiEAL trainees, researchers, and postdoctoral fellows.
- Expertise and knowledge: ARiEAL researchers and trainees are experts with an array of specialized equipment and laboratories, qualitative and quantitative research methods, knowledge mobilization activities in applied and experiment language sciences, relevant clinical conditions, and key neurophysiological, neuroimaging, and behavioural measures. Members can share knowledge and expertise during the entire life cycle of applied and experimental languages sciences research projects. For instance, ARiEAL can provide consultation sessions during the conception phase, training sessions for users and research teams that are using the Centre’s complex equipment for the first time, and research support and lab assistance during experiments for teams that do not have the appropriate people-power to conduct complex experiments or require firsthand knowledge of the Centre’s equipment and research methods from experts throughout.
- Zoom-compatible work/meeting room: This room functions as a hybrid set-up or smart room, and is ideal for guest talks, team meetings, or a coworking space for teams to meet, strategize, and engage with partners.
Director: Dr. Ivona Kucerová
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