About

Established in 2020 by Dr. Shanna Kousaie, the Cognitive Neuroscience of Bilingualism Lab is composed of graduate students, honours students, research assistants, and volunteers.

Research in the lab uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalography (EEG), and behavioural measures to understand the links between bilingual language experience, cognition, and brain structure and function.

Currently, we are collecting data for the study "Multimodal measures of the interaction between cognition and language experience". If you are between the ages of 18 and 35, are monolingual or English-French bilingual, and are interested in participating in this study please contact cogneuro.bilingualism@uottawa.ca.

We are also commencing a new study “Neurocognitive measures of the impact of language experience on cognitive reserve in aging and cognitive impairment” that is examining the influence and mechanism(s) of bilingual language experience as a protective factor in cognitive aging.

The lab is also interested in developing an objective way to measure relative language proficiency using speech samples collected from participants in different past and ongoing studies in the lab.

Students interested in volunteering, completing an Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) project, an honours thesis, or graduate studies with the Cognitive Neuroscience of Bilingualism Lab should contact Dr. Shanna Kousaie.

Dr. Kousaie can supervise graduate students in the Clinical and Experimental Psychology program as well as undergraduate students completing their honours thesis.

Please include your contact information, transcript, and CV.

Thank you for your interest in our lab!

Multimodal measures of the interaction between cognition and language experience (18-35)

2 (1)

This study aims to understand the links between bilingual language experience, cognition, and brain structure and function. The study consists of three sessions:

Behavioural
EEG
MRI.

Once all of the sessions are complete, you will receive a cash compensation as a thank you for helping our research and you will also receive an image of your brain!

If you are between the ages of 18 and 35, are monolingual or English-French bilingual, and are interested in participating in this study please contact cogneuro.bilingualism@uottawa.ca.

Neurocognitive measures of the impact of language experience on cognitive reserve in aging and cognitive impairment (65+)

This upcoming study is examining the influence and mechanism(s) of bilingual language experience as a protective factor in cognitive aging. This activity consists of two sessions:

Behavioural and EEG
MRI

This activity is looking for English-French bilingual individuals aged 65+.

Dr. Shanna Kousaie

Lab Director

Assistant Professor

uOttawa Research Profile

Dr. Kousaie's general research interests are in the interaction between language and cognition in terms of brain structure and function. The goals of her research are to use a multi-method cognitive neuroscience approach to examine questions about how language experience influences: (1) language processing in both a native and non-native language; (2) executive function and cognitive processes more generally; and (3) age-related changes in language processing, communication, and cognitive function.

Somayya Saleemi

Doctoral Student

Somayya Saleemi (she/her) is a Doctoral student at the University of Ottawa in the Clinical Psychology program. Her research is focused on the effects of bilingualism on cognition and aging. Other areas of interest include child psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and research ethics.

She completed her Hons. BSc. in Psychology from York University in Toronto, followed by an Ontario Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research from Humber College.

In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, swimming, and spending time with her three cats named Potter, Weasley, and Hermione.

Ansh Lavatre

Research Assistant

Ansh is a 3rd-year student at the University of Ottawa studying within the Honors of Health Sciences program. Helping behind the scenes, Ansh assists in keeping the general database up to date on a daily basis across the several labs within the research group. As a student fascinated by the science behind human health and functioning, he is interested in the link between neurocognition and behavioral outcomes from a qualitative and quantitative perspective.

Duru Ünal

Research Assistant

Duru is a 2nd year student in the Honours B.A. Psychology program at the uOttawa. As a research assistant in the CNB lab, she contributes to behavioral testing with both younger and older adults. Her primary interest lies in understanding the brain's structure and function, which fuels her aspiration to become a clinical psychologist. Duru is dedicated to expanding her knowledge and gaining practical experience, with the goal of one day helping individuals navigate their mental health challenges.

Talia Salzman

Research Assistant

Talia is a PhD candidate in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa. Her research focuses on using dual-tasks and neuroimaging, including EEG and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), to identify neural, motor, and behavioural measures that differ between older adults with and without subjective cognitive decline. In the CNB lab, Talia will be helping with data collection and analysis to better understand the relationship between language experience and cognition in bilinguals.

CNB Alumni

Younes El Hamdany (Baccalauréat en art, spécialisation psychologie ’23)
Britney Hammell (Bachelor of Arts, Honours Psychology, minor in Health Sciences ’23)
Emma Kazmierowski (Bachelor of Arts, Honours Psychology, minor in Linguistics ’23)
Naya Goguen (Baccalauréat en sciences, spécialisation psychologie '22)
Maxine Montpetit (Baccalauréat en sciences, spécialisation psychologie '22)
Hannah Kalil (Bachelor of Arts, Honours Psychology ’22)
Ariane Chartrand (Baccalauréat en art, spécialisation psychologie ’22)
Anna Marinescu (Baccalauréat en art, spécialisation psychologie ’24)