The Signing Brain

fMRI of brain activity during ASL sign comprehension

The study of signed languages provides a unique tool for investigating the functional neural organization of language in the human brain. We use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), structural MRI, and event-related potentials (ERPs) to address the following questions:

Is the deaf, signing brain different from the hearing, speaking brain?
What is the nature of the bimodal bilingual brain?
Does learning a sign language change your brain?
Are there differences in brain anatomy between signers and speakers?
How do language proficiency and age of ASL acquisition influence how the brain understands ASL and written English?
Does using a signed language impact the neural organization for non-linguistic visual processing?

Funding

This research is supported by the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (R01 DC101977 and R01 DC014246) and by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01 HD047736).

Recent Publications

Terhune-Cotter, B., & Emmorey, K. (2025). The functional neural network for sign language comprehension. Language and Linguistics Compass. https://doi.org/10.1111/lnc3.70018
Glezer, L.S., McCullough, S., Terhune-Cotter, B., & Emmorey, K. (2025). Bilateral word selectivity gradients in the visual word form system in skilled deaf readers. Neurobiology of Language, 1-37. https://doi.org/10.1162/nol.a.13
Akers, E.M., Midgley, K.J., Holcomb, P.J., & Emmorey, K. (2025). Semantic processing of iconic signs is not automatic: Neural evidence from hearing non-signers. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728924001093
Jackson, C., Hagstrom, L., & Emmorey, K. (2024). A case study of suspected childhood apraxia of sign. Perspectives of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_PERSP-24-00042
Kotowicz J., Banaszkiewicz A., Dzięgiel-Fivet G., Emmorey K., Marchewka A., Jednoróg K. (2024). Neural underpinnings of sentence reading in deaf, native sign language users. Brain and Language, 255, 105447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandl.2024.105447
McGarry, M., Midgley, K.J., Holcomb, P.J., & Emmorey, K. (2024). The role of perceptual vs motoric iconicity in sign production: an ERP investigation of ASL. Neuropsychologia, 203, 108966. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.108966
Emmorey, K. (2024). Sign language and the brain. In J. Binder (Ed.), Encyclopedia of the human brain (2^nd Edition), Reference Module in Neuroscience and Behavioral Psychology, pp. 1-9, Elsevier. Click to request PDF [send email to llcn.lab@gmail.com]
Akers, E., Midgley, K.J., Holcomb, P.J., Meade, G., & Emmorey, K. (2023). Neural effects differ for learning highly iconic versus non-iconic signs in hearing adults. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 27(4), 655-667 . https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728923000809
McGarry, M., Midgley, K.J., Holcomb, P.J., & Emmorey, K. (2023). How (and why) does iconicity affect lexical access: an electrophysiological study of American Sign Language. Neuropsychologia, 183, 108516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108516
Emmorey, K., Midgley, K.J., & Holcomb, P.J. (2022). Tracking the time course of sign recognition using ERP repetition priming. Psychophysiology, 59(3), e13975. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyp.13975
Meade, G., Lee, B., Massa, N., Holcomb, P.J., Midgley, K.J., & Emmorey, K. (2022). Are form priming effects phonological or perceptual? Electrophysiological evidence from American Sign Language. Cognition. 220, 104979. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2021.104979
Emmorey, K. (2022). Ursula Bellugi: Groundbreaking language scientist (1931-2022). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(28). Click to request PDF [Send email to llcn.lab@gmail.com]
Emmorey, K. (2023). Ten Things You Should Know About Sign Languages. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/09637214231173071
Banaszkiewicz, A., Bola, L., Matuszewski, J., Szczepanik, M., Kossowski, B., Mostowski, P., Rutkowski, P., Śliwińska. M., Jednoróg, K., Emmorey, K., & Marchewka, A. (2021). The role of the superior parietal lobule in lexical processing of sign language – insights from fMRI and TMS studies. Cortex, 135, 240-254. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33401098/
Banaszkiewicz, A., Matuszewski, J., Bola, L., Szczepanik, M., Kossowski, B., Rutkowski, P., Szwed, M., Emmorey, K., Jednoróg, K., & Marchewka, A. (2021). Multimodal imaging of brain reorganization in hearing late learners of sign language. Human Brain Mapping, 42, 384-397. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33098616/
Emmorey, K., Midgley, K.J., & Holcomb, P.J. (2021). Tracking the time course of sign recognition using ERP repetition priming. Psychophysiology, 59:e13975. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34791683/
Emmorey, K. (2021). New perspectives on the neurobiology of sign languages. Frontiers in Communication: Language Sciences. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2021.748430/full
Emmorey, K., Brozdowski, C., & McCullough, S. (2021). The neural correlates for spatial language: Perspective-dependent and -independent relationships in American Sign Language and spoken English. Brain and Language, 223, 105044 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0093934X21001383?via%3Dihub
McCullough, S., & Emmorey, K. (2021). Effects of deafness and sign language experience on the human brain: Voxel-based and surface-based morphometry. Language, Cognition and Neuroscience, 36(4), 422-439. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33959670/
Meade, G., Lee, B., Massa, N., Holcomb, P.J., Midgley, K.J., & Emmorey, K. (2021). The organization of the American Sign Language lexicon: Comparing one- and two-parameter ERP phonological priming effects across tasks. Brain and Language, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33940343/
Emmorey, K. (2020). Sign language: How the brain represents phonology without sound. Current Biology, 30, R1361-R1389. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33202232/
Emmorey, K., Winsler, K., Midgley, K.J., Grainger, J., & Holcomb, P.J. (2020). Neurophysiological correlates of frequency, concreteness, and iconicity in American Sign Language. Neurobiology of Language, 1(2), 249-267. PMCID: PMC pending https://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/nol_a_00012
McGarry, M., Mott, M., Midgley, K.J., Holcomb, P.J., & Emmorey, K. (2020). Picture-naming in American Sign Language: an electrophysiological study of the effects of iconicity and structured alignment. Language, Cognition and Neuroscience. PMCID: PMC pending https://doi.org/10.1080/23273798.2020.1804601

older publications >>

Recent Presentations

Terhune-Cotter, B., McCullough, S., Glezer, L., Kimbley, S., Pangle, Z., & Emmorey, K. (2025). The influence of modality and language experience on the neural network for language. Poster presented at the Society for the Neurobiology of Language, September, Washington, D.C. (pdf)
Wiernik, L, Friederici, A., Emmorey, K., & Trettenbrein, P. (2025). Functional neuroanatomy of sign language production: An Activation Likelihood Estimation meta-analysis. Poster presented at the Society for the Neurobiology of Language, September, Washington, D.C.
Glezer, L., McCullough, S., & Emmorey, K. (2024). Skilled deaf, but not hearing, readers exhibit neural tuning in the right Visual Word Form System. Society for the Neurobiology of Language, October, Brisbane, Australia.
McCullough, S., & Emmorey, K. (2024). Neural selectivity for sign-based phonological units: Evidence from fMRI adaptation. Society for the Neurobiology of Language, October, Brisbane, Australia. (pdf)
Terhune-Cotter, B., & Emmorey, K. (2024). Decoding lexical and supralexical processing in American Sign Language comprehension. Poster presented at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society meeting, March, Toronto, Canada. (pdf)
McCullough, S., & Emmorey, K. (2023). Cross-modal effects of pseudo-sign articulation (overt and covert) on pre-motor cortex: an adaptation fMRI study. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Neurobiology of Language, October, Marseille, France. (pdf)
Terhune-Cotter, B., McCullough, S., & Emmorey, K. (2023). Functional localizers for American Sign Language Comprehension. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Neurobiology of Language, October, Marseille, France. (pdf)
Terhune-Cotter, B., Midgley, K., Holcomb, P., & Emmorey, K. (2023). The influence of parafoveal words on foveal word processing in deaf readers. Poster presented at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society meeting, March, San Francisco, CA. (pdf)
McCullough, S., & Emmorey, K. (2022). Effects of deafness and sign language fluency on white matter connectivity. Poster presented at the Society for the Neurobiology of Language, October, Philadelphia, PA. (pdf)
Terhune-Cotter,B., McCullough, S., & Emmorey, K. (2022). Comparing neural activation at the lexical, syntactic, and narrative levels in American Sign Language comprehension. Poster presented at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society Meeting, April, San Francisco, CA. (pdf)
Emmorey, K. (2022). The signing brain: What sign languages can tell us about human language. William A. Danielson Award Lecture for Distinguished Contributions to Communication. University of Texas, Austin, April, Virtual talk.
Terhune-Cotter,B., McCullough, S., & Emmorey, K. (2022). Comparing neural activation at the lexical, syntactic, and narrative levels in American Sign Language comprehension. Poster presented at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society Meeting, April, San Francisco, CA. (pdf)
Emmorey, K. (2021). The signing brain: What sign languages can tell us about human language. Oxford Psychological Society. November, Virtual colloquium.
Emmorey, K., Midgley, K., & Holcomb, P. (2021). Tracking the time course of sign recognition using ERP repetition priming. Poster slam presented at the Society for the Neurobiology of Language meeting, October, Virtual meeting.
McCullough, S.M., & Emmorey, K. (2021). Cross-modal effects of pseudosign articulation (overt and covert) on the extrastriate cortex: an adaptation fMRI study. Poster slam presented at the Society for the Neurobiology of Language meeting, October, Virtual meeting.
Terhune-Cotter, B., McCullough, S.M., & Emmorey, K. (2021). An fMRI localizer for American Sign Language comprehension (Sandbox Series). Poster slam presented at the Society for the Neurobiology of Language meeting, October, Virtual meeting.
Emmorey, K.(2019) Neural and behavioral consequences of lexical iconicity in American Sign Language. Invited speaker for the meeting of Sign Language Linguistics Society (TISLR13). September, Hamburg, Germany.
Emmorey, K. (2019). Neural effects of iconicity in sign language. Invited presentation at Neuroscience of Language Conference, April, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Lee, B., Midgley, K.J., Holcomb, P.J., Emmorey, K., & Meade, G. (2019). ERP evidence for phonological priming in American Sign Language in a semantic task. Poster presented at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society, March, San Francisco. (pdf)
McCullough, S., Brozdowski, C., & Emmorey, K. (2019). Neural correlates for comprehending perspective-independent and perspective-dependent spatial expressions in ASL and English. Poster presented at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society, March, San Francisco. (pdf)

older presentations>>