Donald Bolger

Dr. Donald Bolger is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology at the University of Maryland. He holds affiliate faculty positions at the Language Science Center and the Maryland Neuroimaging Center. His work focuses on the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying language and reading development, with particular attention to atypical development such as dyslexia. Dr. Bolger employs advanced methods including functional MRI, EEG, and physiological measures to investigate how cognitive abilities like executive functioning influence learning.

Education: Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.

Research interests span the neurobiological basis of reading acquisition, emotional language processing in autism, and the impact of socioeconomic factors on early childhood development. His studies utilize interdisciplinary approaches combining behavioral experiments with neuroimaging to explore how brain systems support language and cognitive skills.

Key research trends in his recent articles include investigations into ERP components linked to semantic processing, cognitive control mechanisms, and cross-linguistic comparisons (e.g., Korean/Chinese language processing). His work bridges cognitive neuroscience with educational applications, particularly in understanding reading disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Grants: Funded by NIH, NSF, Office of Naval Research, and Department of Defense. His lab (Laboratory for Neurodevelopment of Reading and Language) focuses on translational research linking neural mechanisms to educational outcomes.

Labs/Teams: Leads the LNRL lab and collaborates with neuroimaging centers. Current projects examine stress effects on learning, bilingual brain networks, and longitudinal studies of neurocognitive development.