Paper 3: Language processing across presentation modes 📖

Language can be highly serial (speech) or fully parallel (text). We provide the first comparison of serial vs. parallel visual language input, revealing shared and distinct neural mechanisms.
📄 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Paper 2: Semantics also dictates the encoding of animacy

An ARABIAN TIGER refers to a living animal 🐅, whereas a PLASTIC TIGER intuitively does not. We show that semantic context suppresses core word-level features from the neural representation.
📄 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Paper 1: Syntax dictates the encoding of animacy

Does the word TIGER always evoke a 🐅? We show that the brain's neural representations shift solely based on functional roles in structures like VALLEY TIGER vs. TIGER VALLEY.

📄 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Had a great time presenting my dissertation work with @liinapy.bsky.social at last week’s #SNL2026! 🧠
All three preprints are now out—here’s a quick breakdown of what we found 👇