Ed Neuro > Research

Research

Learn about our research, scholarly work, labs, and facilities here at the University of Alabama. In our program, doctoral students are required to participate in and conduct research, and faculty members work closely with doctoral students to help them complete their research requirements. Each doctoral student takes a number of research courses and seminars and is required to participate in ongoing research projects prior to dissertation. Using the buttons below, you can browse/filter by research interest/topic and methodology. You'll find a brief summary of each lab's focus in addition to a link to the lab's website.

For a listing of recent publications by our faculty and students, scroll to the bottom of this page.

If you're looking for info about the ESPRMC research pool, Click Here


Members of ELDEN Lab together

Embodied Learning Design and Educational Neuroscience (ELDEN) Lab

Educational Neuroscience
Numerical Cognition
STEM Learning
Embodied Cognition
Learning Design
EEG



The Embodied Learning Design and Educational Neuroscience (ELDEN) Lab was founded in 2015 by Fırat Soylu. As the name implies, our work is within the newly emerging field of educational neuroscience. The current research in the ELDEN Lab mainly focuses on numerical cognition and mathematics learning, in addition to wider interests in STEM learning and computational modeling. We conduct behavioral, neuroimaging, and design-based investigations for our research. Our goals are to provide multi-level (e.g., neural, cognitive, socio-cultural) explanations for how learning occurs in STEM domains through both lab and classroom studies, to formulate learning-design heuristics, and to design computational tools for learning. Our approach to issues in STEM learning is framed by embodied and evolutionary theories of cognition, meaning that we consider how bodily systems ground cognition and how cognitive abilities have evolved through reuse of existing sensorimotor systems.

Lab Website

Group of NERD Lab students and faculty together on Zoom

The Neuroscience of Education Research on Development (NERD) Lab

Neurobiology of Language
Embodied Cognition
Second Langauge Acquisition
Autisim Spectrum Disorder
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
fNIRS
EEG
Eye Tracking
Educational Neuroscience




The Neuroscience of Education Research on Development (NERD) Lab at the University of Alabama studies how the human brain supports learning across the lifespan by examining the neurobiology of language processing and acquisition. We use a variety of behavioral (eyetracking) and neuroimaging (EEG, fNIRS) methods to investigate how speech and gesture contribute to learning from childhood through adulthood in diverse populations.

Lab Website

Group of students sitting together around a table.

Social, Emotional and Educational Neuroscience (SEED) Lab

Educational Neuroscience
Social Neuroscience
Social Development
Positive Psychology
Computational Simulation
Educational Intervention





The Social, Emotional, and EDucational Neuroscience Lab at the University of Alabama College of Education, the SEED Neuroscience Lab, studies how to promote students' social, emotional, and motivational development in educational settings by utilizing various neuroscientific research methods, including but not limited to, functional MRI (fMRI), structural MRI, psychological intervention, and computer simulation methods. We conduct research projects focusing on moral development and education, growth mindset, and effective educational interventions promoting positive youth development.

Lab Website

Brain, Learning, and Education Lab (BLE)

Educational Neuroscience
fMRI
Numerical Cognition
STEM Learning


A description of the BLE Lab is coming soon! Please use the link below to access the BLE Lab website.

Lab Website

ABCD Lab Logo

Alabama Cognitive Development (ABCD) Research Lab

Cognitive Development
Child Development
Language Development


​The ABCD Lab studies children's language development along with several other issues related to cognitive development more broadly. Our main questions usually grow out of three primary areas of interest: learning words, learning from others, and thinking about others. Descriptions of some of our ongoing or recent studies are available on our website.

Lab Website

Center for the Study of Ethical Development

Social Development
Moral Judgement Development
Moral Reasoning


Our vision for the Center is that its work will make a real contribution to progress in the moral life and learning of American people. The Center was founded in 1982 by Professor James R. Rest and since then has inspired or conducted research with children of all ages and multiple professional groups. Historically, The Center has been defined by its multi-disciplinary approach and for developing methods for assessing and measuring ethical functioning and development.By undertaking and supporting high quality research, we aim to promote and reinforce an understanding and appreciation of moral ideals. In September 2018, the Center moved to larger premises within the University of Alabama and is now located in Capital Hall, Room 1619.

Lab Website



Bold names are students or faculty in the Educational Psychology graduate program. Publications are organized by year and then by the first author's last name. 

In Press

Yaghoubi Jami, P.*, & Thoma, S. (in press). Does Physical and psychological distress affect the expression of empathy for young adults with different histories of painful life experiences?

2021
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Rivera, B., & Soylu, F. (2021). Incongruity in fraction verification elicits N270 and P300 ERP effects. Neuropsychologia, 161, 108015. 

Suárez-Pellicioni, M., Soylu, F., & Booth, J. R. (2021). Gray matter volume in left intraparietal sulcus predicts longitudinal gains in subtraction skill in elementary school. NeuroImage, 235, 118021. 

​​Suárez Pellicioni, M., Demir-Lira, O.E., Booth, J. (2021). Neurocognitive mechanisms explaining the role of math attitudes in predicting children’s improvement in multiplication skill. Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Neuroscience.

Han, H., & Dawson, K. J.* (2021). Applying Elastic-net Regression to Identify the Best Models Predicting Changes in Civic Purpose during the Emerging Adulthood. Journal of Adolescence, 93. 20-27.

Rachev R. N.**, Han, H**, Lacko, D, Gelpi, R., Yamada, Y., & Lieberoth, A. (2021). Replicating the Disease framing problem during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic: A study of stress, worry, trust, and choice under risk. PLOS One, 16(9), e0257151

Yagobu Jami, P.* **, Han, H.**, Thoma, S. J., & Houser, R. (in press). Do Histories of Painful Life Experiences Affect the Expression of Empathy among Young Adults: An Electroencephalography Study. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 689304​.

Han, H. (2021). Public value, psychology, and neuroscience. Journal of Public Value, 1, 23-32.
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Han, H., Ballard, P. J., & Choi, Y-J. (2021). Links between moral identity and political purpose during emerging adulthood. Journal of Moral Education, 50(2), 166-184.

Gungordu N., Hernandez-Reif M., Choi, Y-J, & Walker D. I. (2021). The Reliability and Validity of the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale (LSRS) with an English-Speaking Young Adult Sample. Families in Society. 1-8. 

Maximo, J.O., Nelson, C.M., Kana, R.J. (2021). "Unrest while resting"? Brain entropy in autism spectrum disorder. Brain Research, 1762, (147435), 1-8. 

Morett, L. M., Fraundorf, S. H., & McPartland, J. C. (2021). Eye see what you're saying: Contrastive use of beat gesture and pitch accent affects online interpretation of spoken discourse. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition.

Roche, J. M., Zgonnikov, A., & Morett, L. M. (2021). Cognitive Processing of Miscommunication in Interactive Listening: An Evaluation of Listener Indecision and Cognitive Effort. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 1-17.

Wilcox, G., Morett, L. M., Hawes, Z., & Dommett, E. J. (2021). Why educational neuroscience needs educational and school psychology to effectively translate neuroscience to educational practice. Frontiers in Psychology (Section: Educational Psychology), 11, 618449.

2020
Ammons, C. J., Winslett, M., Bice, J., Patel, P., May, K. E.*, & Kana, R. K.* (2020). The mid-fusiform sulcus in autism spectrum disorder: Establishing a novel anatomical landmark related to face processing. Autism Research, 0, 1-12.

Chapman, M. S., May, K. E.,* Scofield, J.,* Decoster, J., & Bui, C. (2020). Does group membership affect children’s judgments of social transgressions? Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 189, 1–13. doi:10.1016/j.jecp.2019.104695

Gungordu N.* & Hernandez-Reif M. (2020). Sibling Relationship Dynamics Relate to the Empathy Process in Young Adulthood. Journal of Family Studies, 1-15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13229400.2020.1753560.

Han, H., Dawson, K. J., Thoma, S. J., & Glenn, A. L. (2020). Developmental level of moral judgment influences behavioral patterns during moral decision-making. The Journal of Experimental Education, 88(4), 660-675.
Chicago

Han, H. (2020). Implementation of Bayesian multiple comparison correction in the second-level analysis of fMRI data: With pilot analyses of simulation and real fMRI datasets based on voxelwise inference. Cognitive neuroscience, 11(3), 157-169.
Chicago

Han, H., Ballard, P. J., & Choi, Y. J. (2019). Links between moral identity and political purpose during emerging adulthood. Journal of Moral Education, 1-19.
Chicago

Han, H., Lee, K.**, & Soylu, F.** (2020). Applying the deep learning method for simulating outcomes of educational interventions. SN Computer Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42979-020-0075-z. SN SocArXiv ResearchGate Academia
 ** indicates authors contributed equally

Hughes-Berheim, S. S.,*^ Morett, L. M.,^ & Bulger, R.† (2020). Semantic relationships between representational gestures and their lexical affiliates are evaluated similarly for speech and text. Frontiers in Psychology (Section: Cognition), 11, 2808.

May, K. E.,* & Kana, R. K.* (2020). Frontoparietal Network in Executive Functioning in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Research, 0, 1-16. doi:10.1002/aur.2403

May, K. E.,* Martino, M. A., & Kana, R. K.* (2020). Emotional Cognition, Theory of Mind, and Face Recognition in Individuals with Autism and PDDs. In J. L. Matson & P. Sturmey (Eds.) International handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders. New York: Springer

Morett, L. M. (2020). The influence of tonal and atonal bilingualism on children's lexical and non-lexical tone perception. Language and Speech, 63 (2), 221-241.

Morett, L. M., Landi, N., Irwin, J., & McPartland, J. C. (2020). N400 amplitude, latency, and variability reflect temporal integration of beat gesture and pitch accent during language processing. Brain Research, 1747, 147059.

Morett, L. M., Roche, J. M., Fraundorf, S. H., & McPartland, J. C. (2020). Contrast is in the eye of the beholder: Infelicitous beat gesture increases cognitive load during online spoken discourse comprehension. Cognitive Science, 44 (10), e12912.

Soylu, F.† & Newman, S. D.† (2020). Editorial: Towards an Understanding of the Relationship Between Spatial Processing Ability and Numerical and Mathematical Cognition. Frontiers in Psychology, Cognition. †Authors contributed equally. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00014

2019

Centanni, T. M., Anchan, M.*, Beard, M., Brooks, R., Thompson, L., & Petrill, S. (2019). Genetic and environmental influences on decoding skills-implications for music and reading. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2604. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02604

​Brown, P., RELISH Consortium, & Zhou, Y. (2019). Large expert-curated database benchmarking document similarity detection in biomedical literature search. Database. (Han, H. member of RELISH Consortium authors).

Burns-Nader, S. Scofield, J., & Jones, C. (2019). The Role of Shape and Specificity in Young Children’s Object Substitution. Infant and Child Development. https://doi.org/10.1002/icd.2124

Ku, Y. R.* (2019). Book Review: Multilinguals’ Verbalisation and Perception of Emotions by Resnik, P. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 38(3), 394–395. doi:10.1177/0261927x19834973

Choi, Y-J., Han, H., Dawson, K. J.*, Thoma, S. J., & Glenn, A. L. (2019). Evaluating reliability, validity, and differential item functioning of the Behavioral Defining Issues Test (bDIT). European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 16(5), 622-631. T&F PsyArXiv ResearchGate Academia

Han, Hyemin (2019). Neuroscience of morality and teacher education. In Michael A. Peters (ed.), Encyclopedia of Teacher Education. Singapore: Springer.

Han, H., Liauw, I., & Kuntz, A. F. (2019). Moral Identity Predicts the Development of Presence of Meaning during Emerging Adulthood. Emerging Adulthood. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696818758735

Yagobu Jami, P.*, Behzad, M., Thoma, S., & Han, H. (2019). An investigation of the divergences and convergences of trait empathy across two cultures. Journal of Moral Education, 48(2), 214-229. T&F PsyArXiv ResearchGate Academia

Mansouri, B., Jami, P. Y., & Salmani, B. Y. (2019). Teachers and Learners' Views on Isolated vs. Integrated Form-Focused Grammar Instruction: A Comparison of Two Contexts. TESL-EJ, 23(3), n3.

Morett, L. M., & Fraundorf, S. H. (2019).  Listeners consider alternative speaker productions in discourse comprehension and memory: Evidence from beat gesture and pitch accenting​.  ​Memory and Cognition, 47, 1515-1530.

Han, H., Glenn, A. L., & Dawson, K. J.* (2019). Evaluating Alternative Correction Methods for Multiple Comparison in Functional Neuroimaging Research. Brain Sciences, 9(8), 198. MDPI 

Han, H., Firat, S., & Anchan, M.* (2019). Connecting levels of analysis in educational neuroscience: A review of multi-level structure of educational neuroscience with concrete examples. Trends in Neuroscience and Education. Elsevier PsyArXiv ResearchGate Academia

Morett, L. M. (2019). The power of an image: Images enhance L2 word learning more than glosses. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10936-018-9623-2

Han, H., & Park, J. (2019). Bayesian meta-analysis of fMRI image data. Cognitive Neuroscience, 10(2), 66-76. https://doi.org/10.1080/17588928.2019.1570103​

Han, H. (2019). The VIA Inventory of Strengths, positive youth development, and moral education. Journal of Positive Psychology, 14(1), 32-40. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2018.1528378

Soylu, F., Rivera, B.*, Anchan, M.*, & Nathaniel, N.* (2019). ERP differences in processing canonical and non-canonical finger numeral representations. Neuroscience Letters. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2019.04.032

Soylu, F., Seo, R., Newman, M. & Newman, S.D. (2019). Gray Matter Correlates of Finger Gnosis in Children: a VBM Study. ​Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.01.032 

Wind, S., Mansouri, B., & Yaghoubi Jami, P.* (2019). Student Perceptions of Grammar Instruction in Iranian Secondary Education: Evaluation of an Instrument using Rasch Measurement. Theory Journal of Applied Measurement, 20 (1), 46-65.
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2018

Han, H., Park, S., Kim, J., Jeong, C., Kunii, Y., & Kim, S. (2018). A quantitative analysis of moral exemplars presented in moral education textbooks in Korea and Japan. Asia Pacific Journal of Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/02188791.2018.1423950

Feiler, J. B.*, & Stabio, M. E. (2018). Three pillars of educational neuroscience from three decades of literature. Trends in neuroscience and education. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tine.2018.11.001

Han, H., Park, J., & Thoma, S. J. (2018). Why do we need to employ Bayesian statistics and how can we employ it in studies of moral education? With practical guidelines to use JASP for educators and researchers. Journal of Moral Education, 47(4), 519-537. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2018.1463204

Han, H., Choi, Y., Dawson, K. J.*, & Jeong, C. (2018). Moral growth mindset is associated with change in voluntary service engagement. PLOS One, 13(8), e0202327. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202327

Han, H., Lee, K., & Soylu, F., (2018). Simulating outcomes of interventions using a multipurpose simulation program based on the evolutionary causal matrices and Markov chain. Knowledge and Information Systems, 18(2), 223-227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10115-017-1151-0
 
Han, H., & Park, J. (2018). Using SPM 12’s second-level Bayesian inference procedure for fMRI analysis: Practical guidelines for end users. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics, 12, 1. https://doi.org/10.3389/fninf.2018.00001

Morett, L.M. (2018). In hand and in mind: Effects of gesture production and viewing on second language word learning. Applied Psycholinguistics. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0142716417000388

Scofield, J., Merriman, W. E., & Wall, J. L.* (2018). The Effect of a Tactile-to-Visual Shift on Young Children’s Tendency to Map Novel Labels Onto Novel Objects. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 172, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2018.03.003

​Soylu, F., Raymond, D.R., Gutierrez, A.M., & Newman, S.D. (2018). The differential relationship between finger gnosis, and addition and subtraction: an fMRI study​. Journal of Numerical Cognition​, 3(3), 694–715. https://doi.org/10.5964/jnc.v3i3.102

Soylu, F., Newman, S.D. & Lester, F.K. (2018). You can count on your fingers: The role of fingers in early mathematical development. Journal of Numerical Cognition, 4(1), 107-135. https://doi.org/10.5964/jnc.v4i1.85

Yaghoubi Jami, P.*, Mansouri, B., & Thoma, S. (2018). Age and educational level predict trait empathy among Iranian population. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-9967-7
 
Yaghoubi Jami, P.*, Mansouri, B., Thoma, S., & Han, H. (2018). An investigation of the divergences and convergences of trait empathy across two cultures. Journal of Moral Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2018.1482531
 
Wind, S., Yaghoubi Jami, P.*, & Mansouri, B. (2018). Exploring the Psychometric Properties of the Empathy Quotient for Farsi Speakers. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-9938-z

2017

Gungordu, N. (2017). Are empathy traits associated with cultural orientation?: a cross-cultural comparison of young adults (Doctoral dissertation, University of Alabama Libraries).

Glenn, A. L., Han, H., Yang, Y., Raine, A., & Schug, R. A. (2017). Associations between psychopathic traits and brain activity during instructed false responding. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 266, ​123-137.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pscychresns.2017.06.008
 
Han, H., Kim, J., Jeong, C., & Cohen, G. L. (2017). Attainable and relevant moral exemplars are more effective than extraordinary exemplars in promoting voluntary service engagement. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 283. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00283

Han, H. (2017). Neural correlates of moral sensitivity and moral judgment associated with brain circuitries of selfhood: A meta-analysis. Journal of Moral Education, 46(2), 97-113. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2016.126283

Han, H., & Glenn, A. L. (2017). Evaluating Methods of Correcting for Multiple Comparisons Implemented in SPM12 in Social Neuroscience fMRI Studies: An Example from Moral Psychology. Social Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470919.2017.1324521

Malin, H., Han, H., & Liauw, I. (2017). Civic purpose in late adolescence: Factors that prevent decline in civic engagement after high school. Developmental Psychology, 53(7), 1384-1397. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/dev0000322

Lee, C. M. A., & Thoma, S. J. (2017). Developing and testing a scale of moral thinking and communication (MTC) functioning: a preliminary study and its implications for moral development and education. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/02188791.2017.1386618
 
Roche, C., Radomski, M., Grimes, T., & Thoma, S. J. (2017). Promoting peer debate in pursuit of moral reasoning competencies development: spotlight on educational intervention design. Innovations in Pharmacy, 8(4), 2-2. https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v8i4.928
 
Roche, C., & Thoma, S. (2017). Insights from the Defining Issues Test on Moral Reasoning Competencies Development in Community Pharmacists. American journal of pharmaceutical education, 81(8), 5913. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe5913

Soylu, F., Holbert, N., Brady, C., & Wilensky, U. (2017). Embodied perspective taking in learning about complex systems. Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 28(3), 269–303.
 
Walker, D. I., Thoma, S. J., Jones, C., & Kristjánsson, K. (2017). Adolescent moral judgement: A study of UK secondary school pupils. British Educational Research Journal, 43(3), 588-607. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3274

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2016

Bebeau, M. J., Thoma, S. J., & Cunningham, C. D. (2016). Educational Programs for Professional Identity Formation: The Role of Social Science Research. Mercer L. Rev., 68, 591.
 
Han, H. (2016). How can neuroscience contribute to moral philosophy, psychology and education based on Aristotelian virtue ethics?. International Journal of Ethics Education, 1(2), 219-223. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40889-016-0016-9  
 
Han, H., Chen, J., Jeong, C., & Glover, G. H. (2016). Influence of the cortical midline structures on moral emotion and motivation in moral decision-making. Behavioural Brain Research, 302, 237-251. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2016.01.001 
 
Han, H., Lee, K., & Soylu, F. (2016). Predicting Long-term Outcomes of Educational Interventions Using the Evolutionary Causal Matrices and Markov Chain Based on Educational Neuroscience. Trends in Neuroscience and Education, 5(4), 157-165.
 Elsevier ArXiv. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tine.2016.11.003
 
Mccreary, G., Bray, N., & Thoma, S. (2016). Bad Apples or Bad Barrels? Moral Disengagement, Social Influence, and the Perpetuation of Hazing in the College Fraternity. Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors, 11(2).
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Morett, L.M., O’Hearn, K., Lynn, A. S., Luna, B., & Ghuman, A. S. (2016). Altered gesture and speech production in ASD detract from in-person communicative quality. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46, 998–1012.

Soylu, F., (2016). An embodied approach to understanding: Making sense of the world through simulated bodily activity. Frontiers in Psychology, 7:1914. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01914

Soylu, F., & Newman, S.D. (2016). Anatomically ordered tapping interferes more with one-digit addition than two-digit addition - A dual-task fMRI study. Cognitive Processing. 17(1), 67–77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-015-0737-2
 
Thoma, S. J., Bebeau, M. J., & Narvaez, D. (2016). How not to evaluate a psychological measure: Rebuttal to criticism of the Defining Issues Test of moral judgment development by Curzer and colleagues. Theory and Research in Education, 14(2), 241-249. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1477878516635365
 
Zhang, Q., & Thoma, S. J. (2016). An Empirical Cross-Cultural Study of Moral Judgment Development in Mainland China. Ethics in Progress, 7(1), 228-245.
 
 
2015
 
Brady, C., Holbert, N., Soylu, F., Novak, M., & Wilensky, U. (2015). Sandboxes for model-based inquiry. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 24(2-3), 265-286. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-014-9506-8
 
Greer, J. L., Searby, L. J., & Thoma, S. J. (2015). Arrested development? Comparing educational leadership students with national norms on moral reasoning. Educational Administration Quarterly, 51(4), 511-542. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0013161X14539807
 
Han, H. (2015). Purpose as a moral virtue for flourishing, Journal of Moral Education, 44(3), 291-309. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2015.1040383

Han, H. (2015). Virtue ethics, positive psychology, and a new model of science and engineering ethics education. Science and Engineering Ethics, 21(2), 441-460. Springer.
 
Houser, R., Thoma, S., Fonseca, D., O’Conner, E., & Stanton, M. (2015). Enhancing statistical calculation with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the left intra-parietal sulcus (IPS). Trends in Neuroscience and Education, 4(4), 98-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tine.2015.07.002
 
Morett, L.M. (2015). How the hands cue the mind: effects of iconicity and enactment on sign language acquisition. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 27, 251–276. 

Morett, L.M., & Chang, L. Y. (2015). Emphasizing sound and meaning in tonal language acquisition: a gesture training study. Language, Cognition and Neuroscience, 30, 347–353.