Investigación Research

Neuropsicología del lenguaje
y afasia post-ictus

Language neuropsychology
and post-stroke aphasia

Investigo los mecanismos cognitivos y cerebrales del lenguaje, la afasia post-ictus y la plasticidad cerebral. Mi trabajo aborda la caracterización de perfiles afásicos, el análisis del habla conectada y el discurso espontáneo, y los mecanismos de plasticidad que subyacen a la recuperación funcional tras daño cerebral adquirido. También estudio la eficacia de intervenciones combinadas que integran modulación colinérgica, terapia intensiva del lenguaje y neuroestimulación transcraneal (tDCS). He publicado 24 artículos en revistas internacionales de alto impacto como Neurology, Brain and Language, Cortex o Scientific Reports. Soy Editora Invitada en Brain and Language (Elsevier, Q1) y miembro de la red internacional INCLUDE, dedicada a promover la diversidad lingüística en investigación neurocientífica.

I investigate the cognitive and neural mechanisms of language, post-stroke aphasia and brain plasticity. My work addresses the characterisation of aphasic profiles, connected speech and spontaneous discourse analysis, and the plasticity mechanisms underlying functional recovery after acquired brain injury. I also study the efficacy of combined interventions integrating cholinergic modulation, intensive language therapy and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). I have published 24 articles in high-impact international journals including Neurology, Brain and Language, Cortex and Scientific Reports. I am a Guest Editor at Brain and Language (Elsevier, Q1) and a member of the international INCLUDE network, dedicated to promoting linguistic diversity in neuroscientific research.

LíneasLines PublicacionesPublications TesisTheses ProyectosProjects EstanciasStays ColaboracionesCollaborations
Líneas de investigación
Research lines
Neuropsicología del lenguaje
Language neuropsychology

Bases neurales del lenguaje y la repetición verbal. Caracterización de perfiles afásicos y análisis de habla conectada en patología adquirida.

Neural bases of language and verbal repetition. Characterisation of aphasic profiles and connected speech analysis in acquired pathology.

Afasia y rehabilitación
Aphasia & rehabilitation

Recuperación funcional y plasticidad cerebral post-ictus. Tratamientos combinados: farmacología colinérgica, terapia intensiva y tDCS.

Functional recovery and brain plasticity after stroke. Combined treatments: cholinergic pharmacology, intensive therapy and tDCS.

Neuromodulación
Neuromodulation

Eficacia de la estimulación transcraneal (tDCS) y la modulación colinérgica sobre la recuperación del lenguaje en afasia crónica.

Efficacy of transcranial stimulation (tDCS) and cholinergic modulation on language recovery in chronic aphasia.

Neuroimagen multimodal
Multimodal neuroimaging

Correlatos estructurales y funcionales del lenguaje. Tractografía y conectividad de las vías dorsal y ventral. Meta-análisis ALE.

Structural and functional correlates of language. Tractography and connectivity of dorsal and ventral pathways. ALE meta-analysis.

Publicaciones
Publications
2026
Visual attention deficits in post-stroke aphasia: occurrence, impairment patterns, and response to cholinergic modulation
Berthier M.L., Gómez-Pérez Á.Y., Dávila G., Torres-Prioris M.J., Birba A., García A.M.
Aphasiology (online 29 Jul 2026)
DOI
2026
Mapping the neural patterns of verbal repetition: an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis
Awana A., Berthier M.L., Torres-Prioris M.J.* & López-Barroso D.* (*Equal contribution. Corresponding authors)
Brain Structure and Function, 231, 75
PDF DOI
2026
Speech and language outcome measures in clinical trials of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases
Berthier M.L., Sosa-Welford A., Orozco-Arroyave J.R., López-Barroso D., Torres-Prioris M.J., Dávila G., García A.M.
Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 26(1), 15–34
PDF DOI
2026
Psycholinguistic variables influencing conduite d'approche in repetition tasks: an experimental exploration and mediation analysis in a person with conduction aphasia
Gutiérrez-Cordero I., Berthier M.L., Torres-Prioris M.J., García-Orza J.
Aphasiology, 1–41
PDF DOI
2025
Definition: Conduite d'approche
Gutiérrez-Cordero I., Torres-Prioris M.J., García-Orza J.
Cortex, 185, 151–152
PDF DOI
2023
Brain structural and functional correlates of the heterogeneous progression of mixed transcortical aphasia
López-Barroso D., Paredes-Pacheco J., Torres-Prioris M.J., Dávila G., Berthier M.L.
Brain Structure and Function, 228(5), 1347–1364
PDF DOI
2023
Turning the spotlight to cholinergic pharmacotherapy of the human language system
Dávila G.*, Torres-Prioris M.J.*, López-Barroso D., Berthier M.L. *Equal contribution
CNS Drugs, 37(7), 599–637
PDF DOI
2023
Donepezil alone and combined with intensive language-action therapy on depression and apathy in chronic post-stroke aphasia
Berthier M.L., Edelkraut L., López-González F.J., López-Barroso D., Mohr B., Pulvermüller F., ..., Torres-Prioris M.J., Dávila G.
Brain and Language, 236, 105205
PDF DOI
2022
Automated detection of speech timing alterations in autopsy-confirmed non-fluent/agrammatic variant primary progressive aphasia
García A.M., Welch A.E., ..., Torres-Prioris M.J., ..., Gorno-Tempini M.L.
Neurology, 99(5), e500–e511
PDF DOI
2022
Spectrum of neuropsychiatric symptoms in chronic post-stroke aphasia
Edelkraut L., López-Barroso D., Torres-Prioris M.J., Starkstein S.E., ..., Dávila G.
World Journal of Psychiatry, 12(3), 450–469
PDF DOI
2022
Controlling the past, owning the present, and future: cholinergic modulation decreases semantic perseverations in a person with post-stroke aphasia
Berthier M.L., Santana-Moreno D., ..., Torres-Prioris M.J.
Aphasiology, 36(11), 1293–1311
PDF DOI
2021
Echolalia: Paying attention to a forgotten clinical feature of primary progressive aphasia
Torres-Prioris M.J., Berthier M.L.
European Journal of Neurology, 28(4), 1102–1103
PDF DOI
2020
Neurocognitive signatures of phonemic sequencing in expert backward speakers
Torres-Prioris M.J., López-Barroso D., Càmara E., Fittipaldi S., Sedeño L., Ibáñez A., ..., García A.M.
Scientific Reports, 10(1), 1–17
Premio Ig Nobel 2023 · Comunicación2023 Ig Nobel Prize · Communication Vídeo de la ceremonia (min. 36:10–41:43)Ceremony video (36:10–41:43)
PDF DOI
2020
Developmental Dynamic Dysphasia: Are Bilateral Brain Abnormalities a Signature of Inefficient Neural Plasticity?
Berthier M.L., Dávila G., Torres-Prioris M.J., ..., López-Barroso D.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 14, 73
PDF DOI
2020
Pharmacotherapy of traumatic childhood aphasia: Beneficial effects of donepezil alone and combined with intensive naming therapy
Dávila G., ..., Torres-Prioris M.J.*, López-Barroso D.* *Equal contribution
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11, 1144
PDF DOI
2019
Repetitive verbal behaviors are not always harmful signs: Compensatory plasticity within the language network in aphasia
Torres-Prioris M.J., López-Barroso D., Roé-Vellvé N., Paredes-Pacheco J., Dávila G., Berthier M.L.
Brain and Language, 190, 16–30
PDF DOI
2019
Language as a threat: Multimodal evaluation and interventions for overwhelming linguistic anxiety in severe aphasia
Torres-Prioris M.J., López-Barroso D., Paredes-Pacheco J., Roé-Vellvé N., Dawid-Milner M.S., Berthier M.L.
Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 678
PDF DOI
2019
"Need to Know" or the Strong Urge to Find Names of Unique Entities in Acquired Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Edelkraut L., Berthier M.L., ..., Torres-Prioris M.J., ..., López-Barroso D.
Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, 32(2), 124–133
PDF DOI
2018
Plasticity in the working memory system: Life span changes and response to injury
Froudist-Walsh S., López-Barroso D., Torres-Prioris M.J., Croxson P.L., Berthier M.L.
The Neuroscientist, 24(3), 261–276
PDF DOI
2018
“Are you a doctor? … Are you a doctor? I’m not a doctor!” A reappraisal of mitigated echolalia in aphasia with evaluation of neural correlates and treatment approaches
Berthier M.L., Torres-Prioris M.J., López-Barroso D., ..., Dávila G.
Aphasiology, 32(7), 784–813
PDF DOI
2017
Cholinergic potentiation and audiovisual repetition-imitation therapy improve speech production and communication deficits in crossed aphasia
Berthier M.L., De-Torres I., ..., Torres-Prioris M.J., ..., Dávila G.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 11, 304
PDF DOI
2017
Thinking on treating echolalia in aphasia: recommendations and caveats for future research directions
Berthier M.L., Torres-Prioris M.J., López-Barroso D.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 11, 164
PDF DOI
2016
Mild developmental foreign accent syndrome and psychiatric comorbidity: altered white matter integrity in speech and emotion regulation networks
Berthier M.L., Roé-Vellvé N., ..., Torres-Prioris M.J., ..., Dávila G.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 10, 399
PDF DOI
2015
Loss of regional accent after damage to the speech production network
Berthier M.L., Dávila G., ..., Torres-Prioris M.J., ..., Ruiz-Cruces R.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 9, 610
PDF DOI
Repositorio: los PDFs están disponibles en la carpeta papers/ de este repositorio . Si no puedes acceder a algún artículo, escríbeme a mjprioris@uma.es.
Repository: PDFs are available in the papers/ folder of this repository. If you cannot access a paper, email me at mjprioris@uma.es.
2024
Efficacy of tDCS in post-stroke aphasia recovery
Torres-Prioris M.J., Berthier M.L., López-Barroso D.
In: Árias N. & Jiménez García A.M. (Eds.), An Insight into Neuromodulation, pp. 121–146. Nova Science Publishers. ISBN: 979-8-89113-445-4
PDF DOI
2020
Pharmacological Treatment of Post-Stroke Cognitive Deficits
Berthier M.L., Dávila G., Edelkraut L., López-Barroso D., Torres-Prioris M.J., Tubio J.
Neurovascular Neuropsychology, 2nd ed. Springer
PDF DOI
2019
Importancia del sexo y las diferencias interindividuales en la representación cerebral del lenguaje
Torres-Prioris M.J. et al.
Tratado de neuropsicología clínica, pp. 105–124. Librería Akadia. ISBN: 978-987-570-371-1
PDF
2018
Echophenomena in aphasia: Causal mechanisms and clues for intervention
Berthier M.L., Dávila G., Torres-Prioris M.J.
In: Coppens P. & Patterson J. (Eds.), Aphasia Rehabilitation: Clinical Challenges, pp. 143–172. Jones & Bartlett. ISBN: 978-1-284-04271-5
PDF
2015
Neuropharmacologic approaches to aphasia rehabilitation
Berthier M.L., Dávila G., Torres-Prioris M.J.
Routledge Handbook of Communication Disorders, pp. 114–124. Routledge. ISBN: 978-0-415-82102-5
PDF

Comunicaciones recientes en congresos nacionales e internacionales. Lista completa disponible bajo petición.

Recent national and international conference presentations. Full list available on request.

2026
Póster · Academy of Aphasia 2026Poster · Academy of Aphasia 2026
Echolalia in post-stroke aphasia: prevalence and linguistic correlates
Hoet F., López-Barroso D., Vertedor S., Gómez-Pérez Á.Y., Dávila G., Berthier M.L., Torres-Prioris M.J.
64th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Aphasia · Liège
PDF
2026
Póster · Academy of Aphasia 2026Poster · Academy of Aphasia 2026
Differential effects of combined donepezil and language therapy on word and pseudoword reading in post-stroke aphasia
López-Barroso D., Torres-Prioris M.J., Dávila G., Berthier M.L.
64th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Aphasia · Liège
PDF
2026
Ponencia en simposio · SANP 2026Symposium talk · SANP 2026
Ecolalia en la afasia postictus: más allá de las afasias transcorticales
Torres-Prioris M.J.
Simposio «Neuropsicología de la afasia. Entendiendo los errores del habla y su valor diagnóstico» · XXII Congreso Andaluz de Neuropsicología (SANP) · Málaga
Symposium «Neuropsicología de la afasia. Entendiendo los errores del habla y su valor diagnóstico» · 22nd Andalusian Congress of Neuropsychology (SANP) · Málaga
La ecolalia es frecuente en la afasia postictus y aparece en todos los subtipos afásicos, no solo en las transcorticales; su correlato más robusto es la comprensión. Los hallazgos apoyan una visión dimensional de la afasia frente a una categorial.
Echolalia is frequent in post-stroke aphasia and appears across all aphasia subtypes, not only transcortical ones; its most robust correlate is comprehension. The findings support a dimensional rather than categorical view of aphasia.
2026
Póster A14 · SNL 2026Poster A14 · SNL 2026
Prevalence, impairment patterns, and response to cholinergic modulation of visual attention deficits in post-stroke aphasia
Dávila G., Gómez-Pérez Á.Y., Berthier M.L., Torres-Prioris M.J., Birba A., García A.M.
Society for the Neurobiology of Language · Geneva
PDF
2026
Póster B85 · SNL 2026Poster B85 · SNL 2026
Basal forebrain nuclei involvement in post-stroke aphasia: combined effects of cholinergic stimulation and language therapy
Berthier M.L., Dávila G., Paredes-Pacheco J., Gómez-Pérez Á.Y., García-Casares N., Torres-Prioris M.J., López-Barroso D.
Society for the Neurobiology of Language · Geneva
PDF
2026
Póster · SEPEX 2026Poster · SEPEX 2026
Right anodal tDCS modulates alerting in chronic post-stroke aphasia
Torres-Prioris M.J., Gómez-Pérez Á.Y., López-Barroso D., Dávila G., Berthier M.L.
II Joint Meeting SEPEX–BAPS · Valencia
PDF
Tesis dirigidas
Supervised theses
The production of speech errors in aphasia: Exploring the dynamic nature of the language system
The production of speech errors in aphasia: Exploring the dynamic nature of the language system
Doctorando: Ismael Gutiérrez-Cordero. Codirigida con Javier García-Orza. Universidad de Málaga. Sobresaliente cum laude, Mención Internacional.
PhD candidate: Ismael Gutiérrez-Cordero. Co-supervised with Javier García-Orza. University of Málaga. Outstanding cum laude, International Mention.
DefendidaDefended
03/2026
Structural and functional organization of language networks: evidence from verbal repetition and comprehension in healthy adults and stroke (título provisional)
Structural and functional organization of language networks: evidence from verbal repetition and comprehension in healthy adults and stroke (provisional title)
Doctoranda: Ariane Awana. Codirigida con Diana López-Barroso. Defensa prevista a principios de 2027.
PhD candidate: Ariane Awana. Co-supervised with Diana López-Barroso. Defence expected in early 2027.
En cursoIn progress
Defensa 2027Defence 2027
Echolalia and repetitive verbal behaviors in post-stroke aphasia: prevalence, neurocognitive bases and response to intervention (título provisional)
Echolalia and repetitive verbal behaviors in post-stroke aphasia: prevalence, neurocognitive bases and response to intervention (provisional title)
Doctoranda: Florencia Hoet Winicki. Codirigida con Diana López-Barroso.
PhD candidate: Florencia Hoet Winicki. Co-supervised with Diana López-Barroso.
En cursoIn progress
2.º año2nd year
Proyectos de investigación
Research projects
Comprendiendo las diferencias interindividuales en el aprendizaje de palabras a través de la neuroimagen y la neuromodulación
Understanding inter-individual differences in word learning through neuroimaging and neuromodulation
Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (PID2021-127617NA-I00).
Knowledge Generation Projects, Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (PID2021-127617NA-I00).
Miembro del equipoTeam member
2022 – 2026
Mecanismos cerebrales y cognitivos de los errores del habla en la afasia
Brain and cognitive mechanisms of speech errors in aphasia
Proyectos de Excelencia, PAIDI 2020, Junta de Andalucía (ProyExcel_00744).
Excellence Projects, PAIDI 2020, Junta de Andalucía (ProyExcel_00744).
Miembro del equipoTeam member
2022 – 2025
Correlatos cognitivos, acústicos y cerebrales de la imitación
Cognitive, acoustic and brain correlates of imitation
II Plan Propio de Investigación y Transferencia, Universidad de Málaga (B3-2021_11).
II Research and Transfer Plan, University of Málaga (B3-2021_11).
Investigadora principalPrincipal investigator
2022 – 2024
Telerrehabilitación en afasia: evaluación de no inferioridad frente a terapia presencial e identificación de biomarcadores predictores de eficacia
Telerehabilitation in aphasia: non-inferiority evaluation against face-to-face therapy and identification of biomarkers predicting efficacy
PAIDI 2020, Junta de Andalucía (PY20_00501). IP: Guadalupe Dávila.
PAIDI 2020, Junta de Andalucía (PY20_00501). PI: Guadalupe Dávila.
Miembro del equipoTeam member
2022 – 2023
Marcadores cerebrales de respuesta a los tratamientos de la afasia crónica post-ictus: hacia un enfoque individualizado de la potenciación de la neuroplasticidad
Brain markers of response to post-stroke chronic aphasia treatments: towards an individualized approach to the enhancement of neuroplasticity
Proyectos «Frontera», Programa Operativo FEDER Andalucía 2014-2020 (UMA18-FEDERJA-221). IP: Diana López-Barroso.
«Frontier» projects, ERDF Operational Programme Andalusia 2014-2020 (UMA18-FEDERJA-221). PI: Diana López-Barroso.
Miembro del equipoTeam member
2019 – 2021
Estudio de la eficacia y reorganización cerebral tras el tratamiento combinado con donepezilo, rehabilitación intensiva y estimulación transcraneal de corriente directa en la afasia crónica post-ictus
Study of the efficacy and brain reorganization after combined treatment with Donepezil, Intensive Language Therapy and tDCS in chronic aphasia
Fondo de Investigación en Salud, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI16/01514). IP: Marcelo L. Berthier.
Health Research Fund, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI16/01514). PI: Marcelo L. Berthier.
Miembro del equipoTeam member
2017 – 2021
Lateralización de la vía dorsal del lenguaje como predictor anatómico del aprendizaje de palabras mediado por tDCS
Lateralisation of the dorsal language pathway as an anatomical predictor of word learning mediated by tDCS
Proyectos para jóvenes investigadores, Universidad de Málaga (PPIT.UMA.B1.2017/35). IP: Diana López-Barroso.
Projects for young researchers, University of Málaga (PPIT.UMA.B1.2017/35). PI: Diana López-Barroso.
Miembro del equipoTeam member
2018 – 2020
Análisis de pruebas de neuroimagen para el Grupo de Enfermedad de Parkinson y Trastornos del Movimiento
Neuroimaging analysis for the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Group
Contrato art. 83 LOU con el Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. IP: Marcelo L. Berthier.
Art. 83 LOU contract with the Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. PI: Marcelo L. Berthier.
Contrato de transferenciaTransfer contract
2020 – 2022
Estancias de investigación
Research stays
Ene. – Sep. 2023
Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging · University College London
Supervisora: Dra. Cathy Price · Beca Margarita Salas (NextGenerationEU / Ministerio de Universidades)
Supervisor: Dr. Cathy Price · Margarita Salas Fellowship (NextGenerationEU / Ministry of Universities)
May. – Oct. 2022
Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging · University College London
Supervisora: Dra. Cathy Price · Plan PAIDI 2020 (Junta de Andalucía / UE)
Supervisor: Dr. Cathy Price · PAIDI 2020 (Junta de Andalucía / EU)
May. – Jul. 2018
Cognition and Brain Plasticity Unit · University of Barcelona
Supervisora: Dra. Estela Càmara · Beca de movilidad FPU (Ministerio de Educación)
Supervisor: Dr. Estela Càmara · FPU mobility grant (Ministry of Education)
Jun. – Ago. 2017
Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional · Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires
Supervisor: Dr. Adolfo García · Beca de movilidad Plan Propio UMA
Supervisor: Dr. Adolfo García · UMA mobility grant
Colaboraciones internacionales
International collaborations
Dra. Cathy Price
Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging · UCL, London

Neuroimagen funcional y estructural del lenguaje. Meta-análisis de correlatos neurales de la repetición verbal.

Functional and structural neuroimaging of language. Meta-analysis of neural correlates of verbal repetition.

Dr. Adolfo García
Universidad de San Andrés · Buenos Aires

Neurocognición del lenguaje, pericia lingüística y correlatos cerebrales del procesamiento fonológico experto.

Language neurocognition, linguistic expertise and brain correlates of expert phonological processing.

Red INCLUDE
International Network

Red internacional dedicada a promover la diversidad lingüística en estudios de salud cerebral y el desarrollo de herramientas de evaluación para lenguas infrarrepresentadas.

International network dedicated to promoting linguistic diversity in brain health studies and developing assessment tools for underrepresented languages.