Using a natural speech paradigm to define neural restoration or compensation in persons with aphasia

Behavioral tests are commonly used in the diagnosis of language-related inabilities in patients with aphasia at present. Although this technique involves essential information about the severity and the direction of the damage, it entails some clear disadvantages as well: No data at the level of the brain is provided, nor can it clearly disentangle the levels of language. Recently, a new method called 'neural tracking' was developped, in which participants listen to ecologically valid natural speech while their brain activity is recorded by means of EEG. The method is presently capable of tracking the lower-order language components, while research is still in the initial phase regarding higher-order speech components. First, we aim to further develop the technique for higher-order speech components. Second, we want to apply the technique to patients with aphasia. By doing so, we aim to indicate the exact patient-specific inabilities at the levels of speech, which can range from lower-order acoustical processing towards integrating contexts. Finally, we pursue to establish the degree of neural compensation and restoration in the chronic phase.