Language, Intelligence, Neuroscience & Cognition
01 / About
We are committed to fostering a welcoming, collaborative, and intellectually stimulating environment while advancing the frontiers of science and engineering.
Our mission is twofold:
To understand human language comprehension in the brain through computable, testable models.
To develop reliable and useful language intelligence systems guided by brain-inspired principles and interpretability, with applications in education, healthcare, and accessibility.
02 / News
Three recent papers offer new perspectives on phrase comprehension, semantic access, and language proficiency in large language models.
Journal of Neuroscience
Brain processes meaning in phrases faster than individual words, challenging long-held assumptions.
Key finding When we read phrases such as “green cake,” the brain processes meaning more quickly than when reading the individual words alone, with word-level meaning activation occurring earlier in phrases than in isolation.
Brain and Language
The brain prioritizes different meaning dimensions based on word type.
Key finding The brain accesses different semantic dimensions at different speeds depending on whether words are concrete or abstract, revealing a dynamic prioritization system in language comprehension.
Read the paperComputers and Education: Artificial Intelligence
Large language models vary dramatically in English proficiency, with all models struggling in key areas.
Key finding A new proficiency benchmark reveals a significant gap between commercial and open-source AI models, with all models showing notable weaknesses in specific subskills, particularly phonology.
Read the paper03 / Join us
LINC Lab welcomes motivated students, research assistants, and collaborators who are excited to explore language, cognition, neuroscience, and machine intelligence. We offer a supportive and collaborative environment where rigorous thinking, open exchange, and ambitious ideas can grow.
Please email your CV and a brief statement explaining why you would like to join LINC Lab and how your interests connect with our work.
