معرفی
Nina Dronkers is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of California, Davis, and a Visiting Scientist in the Department of Psychology at UC Berkeley. Her academic career spans over four decades, with expertise in cognitive neuroscience, aphasia, and neurodegenerative disorders. She has held roles as Director of the Center for Aphasia and Related Disorders at the VA Northern California Health Care System and served as President of the Academy of Aphasia and the Society for the Neurobiology of Language.
Dr. Dronkers earned her A.B. in Linguistics, M.A. in Educational Psychology, and Ph.D. in Neuropsychology, all from UC Berkeley. Her research focuses on brain-language relationships, including cerebral localization of language functions using advanced neuroimaging techniques. She pioneered studies on aphasia recovery, the neural basis of speech production, and the role of white matter pathways in language disorders.
Her work bridges clinical and experimental neuropsychology, with over 100 peer-reviewed publications. Notable contributions include the discovery of the insula’s role in articulation and the re-examination of historical cases like Leborgne (Broca’s Patient) using modern MRI. She has led numerous NIH- and VA-funded grants, mentored dozens of students and fellows, and received prestigious awards such as the VA Research Career Scientist Award and Contra Costa County’s 'Woman of the Year.'
Dr. Dronkers has advised over 30 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, contributing to their success in neuropsychology and neurology. Her labs and collaborations span institutions like UC San Diego, UCSF, and the Max Planck Institute, advancing interdisciplinary research in neurodegenerative diseases and language rehabilitation.
