Paula Tallal, Ph.D. (Cambridge)

 

 

Board of Governor's Professor of Neuroscience
and Co-Director of the
CMBN at
Rutgers University

Co-Founder of Scientific Learning Corp (SCIL)

Director, Scientific Learning Corp

Contact Information:
197 University Avenue
Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Room 201
Newark, NJ 07102
Email:
tallal@axon.rutgers.edu
Phone #: (973) 353-3358

 

Research Interests

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Language and Central Auditory Processing
  • Language-Learning Disabilities

 

 Current Research

  • Neural Basis of Language Development and Disorders
  • Genetic Bases of Language Development and Disorders
  • Development of Cognitive Enhancement Remedial Strategies

 

Academic Positions

  • 1974-1976 Instructor of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
  • 1976-1979 Assistant Professor of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
  • 1979-1980 Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of California at San Diego
  • 1980-1986 Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of California at San Diego
  • 1986-1988 Professor of Psychiatry, University of California at San Diego
  • 1989-present Adjunct Professor of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
  • 1988-2000 Professor II and Co-Director, Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience (CMBN), Rutgers University
  • 2001-present Board of Governor's Professor of Neuroscience, Co-Director, CMBN, Rutgers University

 

Honors

  • NICHD Task Force - 5 year research plan
  • NIDCD Task Force to Develop National Strategic Research Plan
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM IV) Working Group on Language Disorders
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM IV) Working Group on Learning Disabilities
  • National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine Task Force on Causes and Determinants of Mental Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence
  • Interagency Committee on Learning Disabilities: Authored report to the U.S. Congress on Developmental Language Disorders
  • NIDCD-Integrated Planning and Policy Committee
  • Decade of the Brain Lecture-Library of Congress
  • Presidential Special Address Society for Neuroscience.
  • Commentator on the field of Psychology- Library of Congress Bicentennial Celebration
  • March of Dimes Scientific Advisory Executive Council
  • Santa Fe Institute Scientific Advisory Board
  • Fellow American Psychological Society
  • Fellow International Behavioral Neuroscience Society
  • Rutgers University Board of Trustees Award for Excellence in Research
  • Discover Magazine Finalist- Science and Technology Discovery of the Year
  • Testimony on Learning Disabilities to Biomedical Research Congressional Caucus
  • Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award
  • Rutgers University Board of Governor's Chair in Neuroscience

 

Selected Publications
(from over 200)

  • Tallal, P., R. Ross, S. Curtiss, (1989) Familial aggregation inspecific language impairment, Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders, 54, 167-173.
  • Tallal, P., R. Ross, S. Curtiss, (1989) Unexpected Sex-Ratios In Families Of Language/Learning-Impaired Children. Neuropsychologia, 27(7), 987-998.
  • Jernigan, T.L., Hesselink, J. R., Sowell, E.,Tallal, P., (1990) Cerebral Morphology On MRI In Language/Learning-Impaired Children. Archives of Neurology, v. 48, 539-545.
  • Tallal, P., Townsend, J, Curtiss, S. and Wulfeck, B., (1991) Phenotypic Profiles of Language Impaired Children Based on Genetic/Family History,Brain and Language, 41, 81-95.
  • Curtiss, S. Katz, W. and Tallal, P., (1992) Delay vs. Deviance in the Language Acquisition of Language Impaired Children. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, Vol. 35, p. 373-383.
  • Lincoln, A., Dickstein, P., Courchesne, E., Elmasian, R., Tallal, P.(1992) Auditory Processing Abilities in Non-Retarded Adolescents and Young Adults With Developmental Receptive Language Disorderand Autism, Brain and Language, v. 43, p. 613-622.
  • Hagman, J., F. Wood, M. Buchsbaum, L. Flowers, W. Katz, P. Tallal. (1992)Cerebral Brain Metabolism in Adult Dyslexics Assessed with Positron Emission Tomography During Performance of an Auditory Task, Archives of Neurology, 49:734-739.
  • Anderson, K., Brown, C., and Tallal, P., (1993) Developmental Language Disorders: Evidence for a Basic Processing Deficit., Current Opinion in Neurology and Neurosurgery, 6, 98-106.
  • Neville, H. , Coffey, S., Holcomb, P.J., and Tallal, P. (1993) The Neurobiology of Sensory and Language Processing in Language Impaired Children ,Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 5:2, pp. 235-253.
  • Benasich, A., Curtiss, S. and Tallal, P. (1993) Language, Learning, and Behavioral Disturbances in Childhood: A Longitudinal Perspective, Journal of American Academy Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, p.585-594.
  • Tallal, P. and Fitch, R. (1993) Hormones and Cerebral Organization: Implications for the Development and Transmission of Language and Learning Disabilities. In: Dyslexia and Development: Neurobiological Aspects of Extraordinary Brains, A.M. Galaburda (Ed.), Harvard University Press, Boston, Mass.
  • Tallal, P., Miller, S., Fitch, R. (1993) Neurobiological Basis of Speech: A case for the Preeminence of Temporal Processing, In: Temporal Information Processing in the Nervous System: Special Reference to Dyslexiaand Dysphasia, P. Tallal, A. M. Galaburda, R. R. Llinas and C. von Euler (Eds), Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, v. 682, pp. 27-47.
  • Trauner, D., Ballantyne, A., Chase, C. and Tallal, P. (1993)Comprehension and Expression of Affect in Language-Impaired Children, Journal of Psycholinguistic Research, v. 22, no. 4 pp.445-452.
  • Fitch, H., Brown, C. O'Connor, K., and Tallal, P. (1993) Functional Lateralization for Auditory Temporal Processing in Male and Female Rats, Behavioral Neuroscience, v. 107, no. 5, pp. 844-850.
  • Tallal, P., Jernigan, T., Trauner, D. (1994) Developmental Bilateral Damageto the Head of the Caudate Nuclei: Implications for Speech Language Pathology. J. of Medical Speech-Language Pathology, v. 2,no. 1, pp. 23-28.
  • Fitch, R., Tallal, P., Brown, C., Galaburda, A., Rosen, G., (1994) Induced Microgyria and Auditory Temporal Processing in Rats: A Model for Language Impairment?. Cerebral Cortex, 4:260-270.
  • Tallal, P., (1994) In the Perception of Speech Time is of the Essence,Temporal Coding in the Brain, pp. 291-299, G. Buzsaki et al(eds.), Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
  • Fiez, J., Tallal, P., Raichle, M., Miezin, F., Katz, W., Dobmeyer, S. and Petersen, S., Pet Studies of Auditory and Phonological Processing: Effects of Stimulus Type and Task Condition. J.of Cognitive Neurosciencev.7:3, pp 357-375
  • Cowell, P. , Jernigan, T. , Denenberg, V. and Tallal, P., (1995) Language and Learning Impairment and Prenatal Risk: An MRI Study of the Corpus Callosum and Cerebral Volume. Journal of Medical Speech-Language Pathology, v. 3, no. 4.
  • Tallal, P., (1998) Development and Disorders of Speech and Language: Implications for Neural and Behavioral Plasticity, In: Maturational Windows and Adult Cortical Plasticity, edited by B. Julesz and I. Kovacs, Santa Fe Institute Studies in the Sciences of Complexity, Proceedings . XXIV, v. 6(3), pp. 257-268.
  • Fiez, J. Raichle, M., Balota, D., Tallal, P. and Petersen, S., (1996) Pet Activation of Posterior Temporal Regions During Passive Auditory Word Presentation and Verb Generation. Cerebral Cortex,University Press, v. 6:1-10.
  • Fellbaum, C., Miller, S., Tallal, P. and Curtiss, S., Auditory Processing Deficits as a Possible Source of SLI, Boston University Conference on Language Development, Cascadilla Press: Boston, MA.
  • Miller, S., Delaney, T. and Tallal, P., (1995) Speech and Other Central Auditory Processes: Insights from Cognitive Neuroscience, Current Opinions in Neurobiology, v. 5, p. 198-204
  • Tallal, P., Language Disorders, Developmental, (1995) In Encyclopedia of Neuroscience, 2nd edition.
  • Tallal, P., Miller, S.L., Bedi, G., Byma, G., Wang, X., Nagarajan, S. S., Schreiner, C., Jenkins, W.M., Merzenich, M. M., (1996) Language Comprehension in Language-Learning Impaired Children Improved with Acoustically Modified Speech, Science, v. 271, p. 81-84.
  • Merzenich, M. Jenkins, W., Johnston, P., S., Schreiner, C., Miller, S. L. & Tallal, P., (1996) Temporal Processing Deficits of Language-Learning Impaired Children Ameliorated by Training, Science, v. 271, p. 77-81.
  • Fiez, J. Raichle, M., Balota, D., Tallal, P. and Petersen, S., (1996) Pet Activation of Posterior Temporal Regions During Passive Auditory Word Presentation and Verb Generation, Cerebral Cortex, Oxford University Press, v. 6:1-10.
  • Benasich, A. A. & Tallal, P., (1996) Auditory Temporal Processing Thresholds, Habituation, and Recognition Memory over the First Year, Infant Behavior and Development, v. 19, p. 339-357.
  • Fitch, R. H., Miller, S. & Tallal, P. (1997) Neurobiology of Speech Perception, Annual Review of Neuroscience, v. 20, p. 331-353.
  • Fitch, R., Brown, C., Tallal, P. & Rosen, G., (1997) The Effects of Sex and MK-801 on Auditory -Processing Deficits Associated with Developmental Microgyric Lesions in Rats, Behavioral Neuroscience, v. 111, no. 2, p. 404-412.
  • Spitz, R. V., Tallal, P., Flax, J. & Benasich A., (1997) Look Who's Talking: A Prospective Study of Familial Transmission of Language Impairments, Journal of Speech Hearing Research, v. 40, no. 5, p. 990-1001.
  • Tallal, P., Allard, L., Miller, S., & Curtiss, S., (1997) Academic Outcomes of Language Impaired Children, In: Dyslexia: Biology, Cognition and Intervention, Hulne, C. and Snowling, M. (Eds), Whurr Press, London, pp. 167-181.
  • Tallal, P., Miller, S., Jenkins, B., & Merzenich, M., (1997) The Role of Temporal Processing in Developmental Language-Based Learning Disorders: Research and Clinical Implications, In: Foundations of Reading Acquisition, Benita Blachman, Ed., Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc., Inc. Publishers.
  • Llinas, R., Ribary, U. & Tallal, P. (1998) Dyschronic language-based learning disability. In Basic Neural Mechanisms in Cognition and Language. Wenner-Gren International Symposium Series, Elsevier Science Ltd., Oxford, pp. 101-109.
  • Tallal, P. (1998) Language learning impairment: Integrating research and remediation, Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, v. 39, no. 3, p. 197-199.
  • Nagarajan, S.S., Wang, X., Merzenich, M.M., Schreiner, C.E., Johnston, P.A., Jenkins, W.M., Miller, S.L., & Tallal, P., A (1998) Speech Modification Algorithms Used For Training Language-Learning Impaired Children (LLIs). IEEE Transactions in Rehabilitation Engineering, v.6, n.3, pp. 257-268.
  • Tallal, P., (1998) Development and Disorders of Speech and Language: Implications for Neural and Behavioral Plasticity, In: Maturational Windows and Adult Cortical Plasticity, edited by B. Julesz and I. Kovacs, Santa Fe Institute Studies in the Sciences of Complexity, Proceedings V. XXIV, v. 6(3), pp. 257-268.
  • Tallal, P., Merzenich, M., Miller, S., & Jenkins, W. (1998) Language Learning Impairments: Integrating Basic Science, Technology and Remediation, Experimental Brain Research, v. 123, p 210-219.
  • Tallal, P., Miller, S.L., Bedi, G., Wang, X., Nagarajan, S., Schreiner, C., Jenkins, W.M., Merzenich, M.M. (1998) Language comprehension in language-learning impaired children improved with acoutically modified speech, in M.E. Hertzig & E.A. Farber (Eds.) Annual Progress in Child Psychiatry and Child Development 1997, Brunner/Mazel, Inc., Bristol, PA.
  • Merzenich, M.M., Tallal, P., Peterson, B., Miller, S.L., Jenkins, W.M. (1999) Some neurological principles relevant to the origins of -- and the cortical plasticity based remediation of -- language learning impairments. In: Neuroplasticity: Building a Bridge from the Laboratory to the Clinic. J. Grafman, ed., Elsevier, p 169-187.
  • Bishop, D.V.M., Bishop, S.J., Bright, P., James, C., Delaney, T., Miller, S., & Tallal, P. (1999) Different etiological origin of auditory deficit and weak phonological short-term memory in children with specific language impairment: Evidence from a twin study. Journal of Speech Hearing & Language Research, 42(1), pp. 155-168.
  • Brown, C.P., Fitch, H. , & Tallal, P. (1999) Sex and hemispheric differences for rapid auditory processing in normal adults., Laterality, 4 (1) p. 39-50.
  • Miller, S.L., Linn, N., Tallal, P., Merzenich, M.M., and Jenkins, W.M., (1999) Acoustically modified speech and language training: A relationship between auditory word discrimination training and measures of language outcome, Speech and Language Therapy, v. 197:159-182.
  • Tallal, P. (1999) "Moving Research From The Laboratory to Clinics and Classrooms", In: Reading and Attention Disorders: Neurobiological Correlates, Drake Duane (ed.), chapter 6, pp. 93-112.
  • Nagarajan, S., Mahncke, H., Salz, T., Tallal, P., Roberts, T. and Merzenich, M.M. (1999) Cortical Auditory Signal Processing in Poor-Reading Adults, Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences, v. 96, pp. 6483-6488.
  • Tallal, P., (1999) Neurobiological and neuropsychological studies of language development and disorders, In: The Adaptable Brain, v. II, p. 23-35., Library of Congress.
  • Merzenich, M.M., Saunders, G., Jenkins, W.M., S.L., Peterson, B.E., Tallal, P. (1999) Pervasive Developmental Disorders: Listening Training and Language Abilities, In: S.H. Broman & J.M. Fletcher (Eds.) The Changing Nervous System: Neurobehavioral Consequences of Early Brain Disorders, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 365-385.
  • Clark, M.G., Rosen, G.D., Tallal, P., & Fitch, R.H. (2000) Impaired processing of complex auditory stimuli in rats with induced cerebrocortical microgyria, Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, v. 12 issue 5, pp. 828-839.
  • Tallal, P. (2000) The science of literacy: From the laboratory to the classroom. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 97(6), p. 2402-2404.
  • Tallal, P. (2000) Book Review of: Laurence B. Leonard's, Children With Specific Language Impairment, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass, Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 6:3, pp. 372-374.
  • Clark, M.G., Rosen, G.D., Tallal, P., & Fitch, R.H. (2000) Impaired two-tone processing at rapid rates in rats with induced microgyria, Brain Research, 871(1):94-7.
  • Trauner, D., Wulfeck, B., Tallal, P. & Hesselink, J. (2000) Neurologic and MRI profiles of children with developmental language impairment, Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, v. 42, pp. 470-475.
  • Ribary, U., Joliot, Miller, S. L., M., Kronberg, E., Cappell, J., Tallal, P., & Llinas, R. (2000) Cognitive Temporal Binding and its Relation to 40 Hz Activity In Humans: Alteration During Dyslexia, In Biomag 96, Proceedings of the Tenth Internatinal Conference on Biomagnetism, Cheryl J. Aine, Yoshio Okada, Gerhard Stroink, Stephen J. Swithenby & Charles C. Wood.,Eds., v. 11, p. 971-974..
  • Tallal, P. (2000) Experimental Studies of Language Learning Impairments: From Research to Remediation, In: Speech and Language Impairments in Children: Causes, Characteristics, Intervention and Outcome, D.V.M. Bishop & L.B. Leonard (Eds.), Hove, UK: Psychology Press, p. 131-155.
  • Temple, E., Poldrack, R.A., Protopapas, A., Nagarajan, S., Salz, T., Tallal, P., Merzenich, M.M. & Gabrieli, J.D.E. (2000) Disruption of the Neural Response to Rapid Acoustic Stimuli in Dyslexia: Evidence from fMRI, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 97 (25, pp. 13907-12.
  • Temple, E., Poldrack, R.A., Salidis, J., Deutsch, G.K., Tallal, p., Merzenich, M.M. & Gabrieli, J.D. (2001) Disrupted neural responses to phonological and orthographic processing in dyslexic children An fMRI study. Neuroreport, 12(2), pp. 299-307.
  • Merzenich, M.M., Saunders, G., Tallal, P. (In Press) Origins of language impairments for &emdash;and impacts of training on &emdash; pervasively developmentally disabled children. In: Role of Neuroplasticity in Rare Developmental Disorders. S. Broman and J. Fletcher, eds.
  • Tallal, P. & Patterson, M. (In Press) Language and Brain Systems, In: Encyclopedia of Psychology, APA Books.
  • Poldrack, R. A., Temple, E., Protopapas, A., Nagarajan, S., Tallal, P., Merzenich, M., & Gabrieli, J.D.E. (In Press) Neural Systems Involved in Processing Rapidly Successive Auditory Events Demonstrated Using fMRI, Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience.
  • Tallal, P. (In Press) Commentary on Psychology, Frontiers of the Mind in the 21st Century, Library of Congress.
  • Tallal, P. (In Press) Language Learning Impairments, In: International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences, Elsevier Publishers, England.
  • Tallal, P., Hirsch, L. S., Realpe-Bonilla, T., Miller, S., Brzustowicz, L., & Flax, J. F. (In Press) Familial aggregation in specific language impairment. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research.

 

Books and Edited Special Issues 

  • R. Stark and Paula Tallal (1988). Language, Speech and Reading Disorders in Children: Neuropsychological Studies, College-Hill Press, Boston.
  • Paula Tallal and B. McEwen (Eds.), (1990). The Effects of Hormones on Brain Development and Cognitive Behavior. Special Double Issue: Psychoneuroendocrinology.
  • Paula Tallal, Albert Galaburda and Curt Von Euler (Ed) (1993) Temporal Information Processing in the Nervous System. Proceedings of the New York Academy of Science, New York, NY.

 

Software Development -- Co Developer

  • Fast ForWord-Basics
  • Fast ForWord-Language
  • Fast ForWord-Language to Reading
  • Fast ForWord-Middle and High School
  • ReWord

Related web sites: http://www.scientificlearning. com/ and http://www.brainconnection.com/.

 

Patents

  • Merzenich, M. M., Jenkins, W. M., Schreiner, C. E., Tallal, P. A., & Miller, S. L. (5/20/97)
    Method and Device for Enhancing the Recognition of Speech Among Speech-Impaired Individuals, Issued, U.S. Patent #5,813,862.
  • Jenkins, W. M., Merzenich, M. M., Miller, S. L., Tallal, P. & Peterson, B. E. (12/17/97)
    Method and Apparatus for Training of Sensory and Perceptual Systems in LLI Subjects, Issued, U. S. Patent #5,927,988.
  • Jenkins; William M.; Merzenich; Michael M.; Miller; Steven, Lamont; Peterson; Bret E.; Tallal; Paula (12/12/00)
    Method and apparatus for training of cognitive and memory systems in humans, Issued, U. S. Patent #6,159,014.
  • Peterson, B. E., Jenkins, W. M., Merzenich, M. M., Tallal, P. A. & Miller, S. L. (12/22/97)
    Remote Computer Assisted Professionally Supervised Teaching System, Issued, U. S. Patent #5,957,699.
  • Jenkins, W. M., Peterson, B. E., Miller, S. L., Merzenich, M. M. & Tallal, P. A. (9/19/00)
    Uniform Motivation for Multiple Computer-Assisted Training Systems, Issued, U. S. Patent #6,120,298.
  • Jenkins, William M., Merzenich, Michael M., Miller, Steven L., Peterson, Bret E., Tallal, Paula (2/20/01)
    Method and Apparatus for Training of Auditory/Visual Discrimination Using Target and Distractor Phonemes/Graphemes, Issued, U.S. Patent #6,190,173.
  • Jenkins, William M., Merzenich, Michael M., Miller, Steven, L., Peterson, Bret E., Tallal, Paula (5/1/01)
    Method and Apparatus for Training of Auditory/Visual Discrimination Using Target and Distractor Phonemes/Graphemes, Issued, U.S. Patent #6, 224, 384.

 

Public Press

N.Y. Times, Newsweek, Time, US News and World Report, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune, CNN International News, CBS Evening News, NBC Evening News.