Research Team: Angela Habib, BSc (Psychology), Saint Mary’s University; Paige Lauwerijssen, BSc (Neuroscience), Dalhousie University; Nicole Jay, BA (Psychology), University of Prince Edward Island.
Program: MSc Speech-Language Pathology
Research Topic: Speech-Based Indicators of Cognitive Performance Across the Adult Lifespan
Research Project: Speech provides a valuable window into cognitive processing, as changes in cognitive demands can be reflected in measurable characteristics of spoken language. This study examines speech-based indicators of cognitive capacity by investigating how speech features vary across levels of cognitive load and whether these patterns differ by age and biological sex. Specifically, we will compare young adults and older adults and examine differences between women and men to determine whether age and biological sex influence speech-based indicators of cognitive performance.
The study will involve fluent English-speaking adults across the adult lifespan with no confirmed history of speech, hearing, neurological, or mental health conditions that could affect speech or cognitive performance. Recorded speech samples collected under different cognitive demands will be analyzed to identify speech features associated with cognitive function.
