Research Interests
Dr. Duncan directs the Language Imaging & Brain Research (LIBRe) Laboratory at LSU. The LIBRe Lab uses cutting-edge neuroimaging research to advance knowledge of short- and long-term plasticity underlying changes in language measures, as induced by brain stimulation and aphasia therapy. Past work has focused on identifying predictors and correlates of post-therapy improvement in chronic aphasia. Current projects study the impact of neuromodulation on language processes in individuals with aphasia and healthy controls, in order to better understand the types of changes that can be facilitated in a brain recovering from stroke.
Courses Taught
Associate Professor, Louisiana State University
- Measurement & Diagnosis of Communication Disorders (graduate)
- Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Hearing
- Acquired Neurogenic Language Disorders (graduate)
-
Seminar: Language & the Brain (graduate)
Publications
Journal Articles (Peer reviewed)
- Foundas, AL & Duncan, ES. (2019). Limb apraxia: A disorder of learned skilled movement. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports.
- Duncan, ES, Donovan, NJ & Sajjadi, SA. (2019). Clinical assessment of characteristics of apraxia of speech in primary progressive aphasia. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.
- Duncan, ES & Small, SL. (2018). Changes in dynamic resting state network connectivity
following aphasia therapy. Brain Imaging & Behavior. - Santhanam, P, Duncan, ES & Small, SL. (2018). Treatment-induced neural reorganization
in chronic aphasia is dependent on time since stroke. Brain Connectivity. - Duncan, ES & Small, SL. (2017). Imitation-based therapy increases narrative content: A case series. Clinical Rehabilitation.
- Duncan, ES, Tune, S & Small, SL. (2016). The neurobiology of language: Relevance to
linguistics. Yearbook of the Poznań Linguistic Meeting. - Duncan, ES & Small, SL. (2016). Increased modularity of resting state networks supports
improved narrative production in aphasia therapy. Brain Connectivity. - Duncan, ES, Schmah, T, & Small, SL. (2016). Performance variability as a predictor of
response to aphasia treatment. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair. - Cahana-Amitay, D, Spiro, A, Higby, E, Ojo EA, Sayers, JT, Oveis, AC, Duncan, ES, et al.
(2016). Who gets the last word? Cognitive contributions to word recognition in sentential
context in aging. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition.
Conference Proceedings & Other Publications
- Duncan, ES. (2019) Null effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on verbal fluency: A double-blind, sham-controlled study. Brain Stimulation.
- Duncan, ES & Small, SL. (2019). Classification of fMRI data in aphasia based on task, time point, and subject. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
- Small, SL & Duncan, ES. (2018). Foreword. In Relentless: How a Massive Stroke Changed My Life for the Better by Baxter, TW. Greenleaf Book Group Press.
- Duncan, ES & Small, SL. (2015). Imitation-based aphasia therapy. Chapter in Neurobiology of Language, Hickok, G & Small, SL, Eds. Elsevier Health Sciences.
- Duncan, ES, Schmah, T, & Small, SL. (2012). IMITATE: An aphasia treatment motivated by motor cortical connectivity. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Grants & Fellowships
Current
Research Competitiveness Subprogram – Louisiana Board of Regents
Clinical feasibility of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with standard aphasia therapy
6/01/17 - 6/30/20
Completed
Manship Summer Research Grant – LSU College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Vigilance enhancement with transcranial direct current stimulation
2019
Strategic Excellence Funding – LSU College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Women in Neuroscience: A Film Screening and Panel Discussion (Co-I)
2018-2019
Instructional Impact Grant – LSU College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Brain Science Speaker Series (Co-I)
2018-2019
Manship Summer Research Grant – LSU College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Interhemispheric inhibition in language
2018
Manship Summer Research Grant – LSU College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Behavioral features of progressive apraxia of speech
2017
Select Awards & Honors
- Faculty & Junior Faculty Travel Grant, Office of Research & Economic Development,
LSU
2019 - International Travel Support (2018-2019), College of Humanities & Social Sciences,
LSU
2018 - Research Mentoring-Pair Travel Award, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2018 - Faculty & Junior Faculty Travel Grant, Office of Research & Economic Development,
LSU
2018 - International Travel Support (2017-2018), College of Humanities & Social Sciences,
LSU
2018 - Selected Participant, Lessons for Success Conference, American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association
2017 - Travel Award, New Mexico Clinical Neurostimulation Conference, UNM Center for Brain
Recovery & Repair
2018 - Kathy Alberti Prize,School of Social Sciences, UC Irvine
2016 - Saffran Student Scholar Award, Eleanor M. Saffran Center for Cognitive Neuroscience,
Temple University
2015 - UC Irvine Pedagogical Fellowship, Center for Engaged Instruction, UC Irvine
2015 - CENCE Graduate Merit Fellowship, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Engineering,
UC Irvine
2014 - Saffran Student Scholar Award, Eleanor M. Saffran Center for Cognitive Neuroscience,
Temple University
2013 - John I. Yellott Scholar Award, Department of Cognitive Sciences, UC Irvine
2012 - Caroline Mossip Scholarship, Mensa Education and Research Foundation
2012 - Associate Dean’s Fellowship, School of Social Sciences, UC Irvine
2012 - Social Science Teaching Assistant Award, School of Social Sciences, UC Irvine
2011 - Award for Continuing Education, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2011 - Award for Continuing Education, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2009 - B.A., Summa Cum Laude, Departmental Honors, Queens College, City University of New
York
2000 - Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Queens College, City University of New York
2000