Laboratory development

Over the years, Dr. Ansaldo's team has developed frameworks for reflection and innovative experimental approaches, with the objective of better understanding the neurofunctional and cognitive processes, underlying normal and pathological communication, within the framework of ageing. In his lab, students and interns in speech-language pathology, biomedical engineering, engineering, medicine, artificial intelligence and information technology receive both neuroscientific and clinical training, while developing and validating interventions to improve communication as a result of post-stroke aphasia and in the setting of dementia, or to discover the cognitive advantages resulting from bilingualism and potentiate their impact in the trajectory of aging.

The innovations resulting from this work are co-created, tested and implemented in the real world, with clinicians, patient partners, managers and industry players, in a spirit based on the conviction that knowledge advances through the contributions of all and all, while ensuring a lasting establishment.

Students have access to two platforms subsidized by the Canada Fund for Innovation and directed by Dr. Ansaldo. The FCI-Lumière Platform (with S. Hidalgo, Co-Researcher) supports a leading cross-industry research program aimed at studying the impact of the emotional dimension of screen content on verbal and non-verbal behavior. communication in a communication dyad living with dementia. In collaboration with AI experts, this research will enable the development of predictive models of communication behavior in people living with dementia and their relatives. Master's and doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows are developing their projects around this innovative theme of great social relevance.

As for the FCI-STIMBRAIN Platform (J. Neva and B. Pageaux Cochercheurs), it is dedicated to the study of the potential adjuvant effects of tDCS (Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation), TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) and physical exercise on motor and verbal performance, as part of the cognitive changes associated with normal aging. Students develop various projects that will result in a better understanding of common mechanisms specific to language and motor processing, while giving rise to validated interventions with healthy aging populations wishing to optimize their cognitive functioning. and physical, or lessen the impacts of processes associated with their decline.

Dr. Ansaldo's team is committed to EDI in research and adheres to the principles and objectives of the Government of Canada's 2019 Canadian Charter, Dimensions: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. We are aware that systemic unconscious barriers can impede EDI and profoundly affect research quality, implementation and societal impact. We are convinced of the importance of integrating an EDI vision into all stages of the research-innovation process, to ensure a greater impact of research in our society and reduce inequalities and optimize the potential of all its members. .