Holly Robson
Research Associate
Room T4, 3rd Floor
Neuroscience and Aphasia Research Unit (NARU)
School of Psychological Sciences
Zochonis Building
University of Manchester
Brunswick Street
Manchester M13 9PL
Research
My research focuses on the neurobiological basis of acquired language impairments post stroke. My research aims to investigate the changes that have occurred in the brain that underlie different impaired language profiles. I am particularly interested in the way that stroke damage changes the way that other, intact cognitive systems function and interact. My research uses multiple methodologies including neuropsychology, psychoacoustics, structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography in individuals with language impairments after a stroke and matched control participants.
My PhD has focused on the cognitive basis of the comprehension impairment in Wernicke's aphasia, investigating the relative contributions of acoustic, phonological and semantic processes to the disruption of language comprehension. My current postdoctoral research extends my PhD findings by using electroencephalography to investigate the neural responses during language comprehension in Wernicke's aphasia.
Biography
I graduated from the University of Manchester in 2008 with a BSc in Speech and Language Therapy. My PhD was funded by an Allied Health Professions Bursary from the Stroke Association and completed in October 2011. I am motivated to contribute to the theoretical understanding of acquired language impairments in order to develop more appropriate and efficient therapy procedures.
Collaborators
My PhD was supervised by Dr Karen Sage, Professor Matthew Lambon Ralph and Dr Roland Zahn (Neuroscience and Aphasia Research Unit, University of Manchester), with further collaboration with Professor Timothy Griffiths, Dr Manon Grube (Auditory Group, Newcastle University) and Dr James Keidel (School of Psychology, Bangor University). I currently collaborate with Dr Shephen Welbourne (Neuroscience and Aphasia Research Unit, University of Manchester).
Publications
2012
Robson, H, Sage, K and Lambon Ralph, MA (2012). "Wernicke's aphasia reflects a combination of acoustic-phonological and semantic control deficits: A case-series comparison of Wernicke's aphasia, semantic dementia and semantic aphasia." Neuropsychologia, 50, 266-275.
Robson, H, Keidel, JL, Lambon Ralph, MA and Sage, K (2012). "Revealing and quantifying the impaired phonological analysis underpinning impaired comprehension in Wernicke's aphasia." Neuropsychologia, 50, 276-288.
2011
Robson, H, Davies, S, Lambon Ralph, MA and Sage, K (2011). "Facilitating and disrupting speech perception in word deafness." Aphasiology, 26, 177-198.
A study into auditory comprehension in aphasia: Information for Speech and Language Therapists
We are currently running a study looking at how and why comprehension is impaired in aphasia. We are looking for a specific group of clients with Wernicke’s aphasia to take part in the study. If you are a speech and language therapist who might be interested in helping with our project by referring potential research participants, or if you would just like to know more, please take a look at the information below. I am always happy to discuss any potential cases or the study by email or over the phone. If you are e-mailing about a case please remember not to put any information in the e-mail that might identify your client.
Click here for a general guide for SLTs interested in research
Click this link for Information on Recruiting patients with Wernicke's Aphasia