Laura M. Morett
Laura M. Morett
Assistant Professor, University of Alabama
Assistant Professor, University of Alabama
OVERVIEW
My research examines the cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms that allow human language to support learning, focusing in particular on the relationship between gesture and speech. The goal of my research is to understand how the gesture-speech relationship changes between childhood and adulthood, how it enhances learning in diverse populations, and how it is abnormal in neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD. To achieve this goal, I use behavioral (video recording, eyetracking) and neuroscientific (EEG, MEG, fNIRS) techniques to study how the gesture-speech relationship contributes to learning in both children and adults.
I am open to recruiting Ph.D. students for 2019-2020. If you are interested in joining the Neuroscience of Education Research on Development Lab, please get in touch and come be a NERD!
RESEARCH
The central hypothesis of my research is that gesture related to speech facilitates learning,
whereas gesture unrelated to speech hinders learning.
HOW DOES GESTURE SUPPORT LEARNING?
When speech fails to convey information clearly, gesture provides an alternative channel through which information can be conveyed. How do teachers use gesture to convey information, and how do learners integrate it with speech to understand this information? My research shows that different types of gestures convey different information, and that gesture comprehension and production are closely related in learning.
WHY IS GESTURE MORE EFFECTIVE FOR SOME LEARNERS THAN OTHERS?
Although many learners integrate speech and gesture effortlessly, people with disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulty using gesture to facilitate learning. How does the function and structure of the brain differ in ASD, and why do these neurodevelopmental differences result in impairments in gesture-speech integration and learning? My research shows that brain regions responsible for coordinating the timing and meaning of gesture and speech play a key role in these deficiencies.
HOW DOES GESTURE'S INFLUENCE CHANGE WITH DEVELOPMENT?
Like all other aspects of language, gesture develops significantly between childhood and adulthood. How does this development affect children's ability to use gesture to learn concepts effectively? My research shows that children can interpret some types of gesture (iconic and deictic) effectively, but that they have difficulty interpreting other types of gesture (beat), affecting the efficacy of their learning.
TRAINING
My scientific training spans disciplinary boundaries, providing me with the theoretical and methodological expertise necessary to conduct rigorous yet innovative research on human communication.
HILIBRAND POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
YALE UNIVERSITY
I conducted research on the cognitive and neural mechanisms of communication in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder using EEG and eyetracking. This position ws funded by an endowment to the Yale Child Study Center by Larry and Debbie Hilibrand.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
I conducted research on the neurodevelopment of multimodal communication in typically developing adolescents using magnetoencepholography (MEG). This position was funded through a NIH Ruth S. Kirschstenstein NRSA Institutional Fellowship (T32) in Translational Neuroscience awarded through the Dept. of Psychiatry.
PH.D., COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ
I conducted research on the cognitive bases of second language acquisition and bilingualism using psycholinguistic methods. My dissertation investigated how gesture can facilitate second language word learning. My graduate training was funded through through the NDSEG fellowship, the Regents' Fellowship, and the Perlino Award.
B.A., PSYCHOLOGY, SPANISH
WASHINGTON COLLEGE
I completed my bachelor's degree summa cum laude with majors in Psychology and Spanish and a minor in English. In my senior thesis, which received honors in both majors, I investigated the effect of modality on word learning in a novel second language.
ABOUT ME
In my spare time, I enjoy the following activities:
Travel
I studied abroad in Ecuador (2006), conducted research in Singapore (2010) and Japan (2012), and recently returned from a trip to the UK. I hope to visit continental Europe or China next!
Food
I cook and eat all types of food and have a particular affinity for local specialties. I'm a huge BBQ aficionado and am in the process of determining the best BBQ in Western Alabama!
Culture
I enjoy attending many types of shows, including musicals, concerts, and opera. Some of my favorites are Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, and Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas.
Pets
I have two rescued cats: a black female named Licorice and a white male named Marshmallow. Their favorite pastimes include birdwatching, napping, and following me around.
CONTACT
lmorett@ua.edu
Academia
LinkedIn
Google Scholar
