معرفی
Cynthia K. Thompson is a Professor Emerita in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at Northwestern University's School of Communication. Her research focuses on neurolinguistic mechanisms of language recovery in aphasia, integrating cognitive neuroscience, clinical practice, and neuroimaging techniques like fMRI and eye-tracking. She holds a PhD in Speech and Language Pathology from the University of Kansas, with prior degrees from the University of Oregon.
Her work explores how brain damage affects language processing, particularly in agrammatic aphasia and primary progressive aphasia. Key areas include syntactic deficits, neural plasticity, and treatment protocols using evidence-based methods. She has contributed to developing assessment tools like the NAVS-C for Chinese patients and pioneered studies on implicit/ explicit learning in aphasia rehabilitation.
- Education:
- PhD in Speech and Language Pathology/Linguistics, University of Kansas
- MS in Psychology & Speech and Language Pathology, University of Oregon
- BS in Psychology (Honors), University of Oregon
Dr. Thompson's research has been recognized with prestigious awards including the Karl Rosengren Mentoring Award (2017) and Honors of the Association (ASHA, 2013). She has authored over 100 publications and co-edited influential texts on neurolinguistics and language production. Her lab collaborates with clinical centers to translate neuroimaging findings into rehabilitation strategies.
- Awards:
- 2017 Karl Rosengren Faculty Mentoring Award
- 2011 Jean and Ralph Sundin Professorship
- 2007 Walder Award for Research Excellence
Her advising and grant work has supported interdisciplinary projects linking cognitive neuroscience to clinical practice. She leads research teams investigating neural correlates of language recovery and contributes to the Buehler Center on Aging and Cognitive Neurology & Alzheimer's Disease Center at Northwestern.
