About the Centre

State-of-the-art facilities for the study of human language

The CRLMB benefits from the recent creation of joint, shared facilities and state-of-the-art research infrastructure that was made possible by grants from the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

These facilities range from sophisticated technologies for investigating the neural bases of speech and language processing (including High-Resolution EEG and Event Related Potential (ERP) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) systems), to high-tech digital video labs outfitted for naturalistic language sampling and analysis intended to examine language development in a range of populations (including monolingual and bilingual first and second-language learners, as well as language-impaired children), to cutting-edge facilities for exploring the development of speech perception skills in infants, to top-of-the-line equipment for examining on-line language processing in both auditory (all paradigms) and visual domains (including eye-tracking and audio-visual speech perception paradigms).

Also available are labs equipped to investigate the electromyographic, sensorimotor, kinematic, biomechanical and neural characteristics of speech production. Major components of the labs include a state-of-the-art electromagnetic device for real-time tracking of the motion of multiple speech organs (including the tongue) in three spatial dimensions, as well as several Optotrak motion tracking devices. The labs of individual investigators are also well-equipped to conduct research on all aspects of language, mind and brain.

List of equipment, by Research Theme

Language Acquisition

  • Digital video recording studio
  • Digital video analysis workstations
  • Infant speech perception lab (HPP procedure)

Neural Bases of Language

  • BioSemi 128 channel Active Two biopotential measurement system
  • Neuroscan 128 channel EEG system
  • Neuroscan 32 channel EEG system
  • BioSemi 64 channel MR-compatible Active Two EEG system
  • Magstim Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation system, -includes Brainsight Frameless image guidance system
  • SGI image analysis workstation

Speech Science Modeling

  • Carstens AG500 Electromagnetic Articulograph
  • Northern Digital Optotrak 3020 movement analysis system
  • Articulate Assistant Electropalatography system
  • Speech acoustic analysis systems

Visual Language Processing

  • SR Research EyeLink II eyetracking system