About the center

The Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Language (CRIL) investigates the neurobiological bases of speech and language. This perspective is pursued integrating neurophysiological data with acoustic and articulatory data. Our aim is to verify classical ontologies developed by linguistic theories at the light of diversified empirical evidence, so that theories and data can be informed mutually. The final goal is the development of inter-theoretic frameworks able to explain speech and language computations and representations in the brain.

At the CRIL neurophysiological and kinematic data may be investigated from different perspectives, combining interdisciplinary knowledges, methodologies and instruments. While using Electroencephalography and/or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation systems we can monitor the activity of cerebral cortex in real time, the complex activity of the larynx and vocal apparatus (larynx, tongue, lips, but also orifical muscles) can be observed, obtaining images and articulatory tracings by means of Ultrasound systems, Electromagnetic Articulography and Laryngography. In addition, eye movements during audio-visual tasks in different communicative contexts can be studied using an Eye Tracking System.