Language and Cognition Lab

Faculty Director: Leah Kapa, PhD

Student Researchers: Abby Williams, Diego Melendez, Allison Staib, Sierra Teso, Maddie Conway, and Kate Alpert

Location: SLHS Room 334

Research Focus: The Language and Cognition Lab focuses on the interaction between language and cognitive abilities, with a specific focus on executive functioning (e.g., memory, attention, planning), in individuals with typical and disordered language development.

We address questions about:

  • the effects of self-directed language on executive function performance,
  • the potential contribution of executive function skills to the process of language learning,
  • and the effectiveness of executive function intervention programs for improving cognitive and/or language abilities in children.

Student Roles:

  • Data collection team: Administering tests to preschoolers at their preschool or in our lab
  • Transcription team: Watching videos of children in the lab and orthographically transcribing their speech
  • Scoring team: Calculating scores on standardized tests and entering data into databases
  • Coding team: Categorizing children's speech in transcripts (remote work)

Currently accepting students? Maybe

Lab Contact: Dr. Kapa; leahkapa@arizona.edu 

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Kapa lab photo