Principal Investigator
Dr. Corina’s research focuses on understanding the neural bases of higher cognitive function, specifically language and memory. He is interested in neurobiological models of language processing and elucidating the degrees of plasticity within systems related to language and memory, drawing insights from the comparisons of signed and spoken languages. Dr. Corina’s work includes developmental studies of children learning language, studies of deaf and hearing college students and neuropsychological studies of language breakdown in aging populations. On-going studies explore language and human actions processing in deaf users of American Sign Language and hearing users of spoken language. A current interest is in the expression of cross-modal plasticity in children with cochlear implants. Dr. Corina’s research encompasses psychology, linguistics and neuroscience.
Research Staff
Jenna
Jenna is a doctoral student in the developmental psychology area. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, minoring in ASL/Deaf Studies and Education. Her current research interests are focused on understanding the link between early language experience and cognitive development in hearing and deaf children. Specifically, she is interested in how language, both spoken and signed, can shape domain-general cognitive mechanisms such as statistical learning and executive function using EEG and eye-tracking methods. When not doing research, Jenna enjoys cycling, climbing, crafting, and spending time with her cat Stanley.
Anna Noelle Boyer
Mahareem Ayar
Timothy Liu
Timothy is working on the Haptic Pilot Project, an exploratory EEG study investigating the potential usefulness of haptic stimulation in spoken language recognition aids for Cochlear Implant Users. He is also conducting experiments on representations in lexical indexing with heteronyms (words that are spelled the same in orthographically, but are pronounced differently, e.g. object_noun and object_verb).
Research Assistants
Jillian McKie
Jillian is a fourth-year sociology major, aspiring to attend medical school and become a pediatrician. She has been a part of Dr. Corina’s lab since her sophomore year. Her grandmother is deaf, making her a Grandchild of Deaf Adults (GODA). She is currently working on the Motion Capture Project which aims to develop a three-dimensional representation of American Sign Language. Previously, Jillian conducted research for the Department of Defense in Dr. Lee Miller’s lab, where she analyzed hearing loss in veteran populations. In her free time, Jillian enjoys playing volleyball, listening to music, and taking Pilates classes.
Elias Garcia
Elias is a fourth-year Pharmaceutical Chemistry major who has been a part of the Corina Lab since 2023. Currently, under the guidance of Anna Boyer, he is working on the Motion Capture Project. As a nephew of a Deaf adult and a signer of American Sign Language, his project aims at better understanding the processing of visual-manual languages in deaf individuals. Elias is an aspiring physician who also loves hiking with his dogs, hanging out with friends, and trying new coffee spots.
Demiana Eshak
Demiana is a second-year Biological Sciences major currently working on the Haptic ERP project. Her research interests focus on how the brain adapts to different language forms and the neural mechanisms that support both signed and spoken language, as well as how early language experiences influence brain development. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading, volunteering at her local hospital, and hiking.
Lendia Wylie
Lendia Wylie is a first-year undergraduate studying Ecology. She is passionate about ASL and science, so she has found her perfect fit in the ASL Motion Capture Project here at the Corina Lab. Aside from her academics, Lendia enjoys coaching 8 and under water polo as well as playing the sport herself. She also loves exploring the outdoors and reading dystopian novels.
Donna Valizadeh
Donna a third-year Cognitive Neuroscience major, working on an ERP project focused on studying somatosensory evoked potentials from vibration on the fingertip and wrist. Outside of lab, she loves hanging out with friends, studying at coffee shops, and going on trips.
Tanmmay Koli
Tanmmay is a third-year cognitive science computational emphasis major, working on the motion capture ASL project. He is also interested in EEG data analysis research. Outside of the lab, he loves playing basketball and video games.
Interested in doing research with us as an undergrad? Reach out to one of the grad students above to hear more about their needs for their projects!
Lab Alumni
Maddison Afradi
Elle Davis
Jamie Herron Lee, Ph.D.
Tanya Matyushkina, Ph.D.
Brennan Gonering, Ph.D.
Elizabeth Pierotti, Ph.D.
Sana Shehabi
Anand Derick
Cathleen Chan
Ruhaan Juyal
Jack Fagan
Andrew Vuong
Aquarious Wong
Katelin Tan
Tristan Schaefer, M.A.
Ludmila Midrigan – Ciochina, Ph.D.
Karolina Ruiz-Rogelj
Todd LaMarr, M.A.
Sarah Hafer
Kelsey Hults
Shane Blau, M.A
Michael Rea
Mia Panelli
Michelle Chang
Kyler Prado
Alaina Porter
Michelle Cohn
Deborah Cates, Ph.D.
Belinda Bustillos
Krystina Ho
Diane Allshouse
Ken Bolingbroke
Victoria Brookins
Thomas Desautals
Vanessa Filippini
Micheal Grosvald, Ph.D.
Eva Gutierrez-Sigut, Ph.D.
Stephen Haight
Shiva Kasravi
Esther Kim
Heather Knapp, Ph.D.
Christian Lachaud, Ph.D.
Laurie Lawyer, Ph.D.
Brandon Loudermilk, Ph.D.
Robert Marker
Mike Pallas
Nicole Spotswood, M.A.
Max Stuart
Travis Taylor
Kearnan Welch
Tara Williams
Journie Dickerson
Tara Shively
Kayla Vodacek, M.A.