Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation (CNBS)
Optimizing and applying noninvasive brain stimulation to health care and research

Faculty

Margaret Naeser,PhD
Collaborating Investigator

My academic appointment is Research Professor of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine. I have been Research Speech Pathologist/Linguist at the Boston VAMC since 1977. Since then, I have conducted VA-funded and NIH-funded neuroimaging research in chronic stroke patients with aphasia. My B.A. (German) is from Smith College. My Ph.D. is in Linguistics, from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1970, and I had two post-doctoral Fellowships, 1970-72: 1) UCLA, Department of Linguistics (Neuroanatomical studies, American Association of University Women) and 2) California State University, Long Beach (Speech Pathology/Audiology graduate studies, Social and Rehabilitation Service). I have the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Pathology. My employment with the VA began in 1972, when I was Chief, Speech Pathology Section, Martinez VAMC, Martinez, California. In 1974, I transferred to the Palo Alto VAMC (affiliated with Stanford Medical School), where I also held the position, Chief, Speech Pathology Section. I began VA-funded Neuroimaging/Aphasia research in 1974, at the Palo Alto VA Medical Center when the first CT scanner was installed there. In 1977, I joined the Aphasia Research Center, Boston VAMC at the invitation of Harold Goodglass, Ph.D., Director. I brought to the Boston VAMC, my VA-funded grant, CT Scan and Aphasia Research. At that time, I established the Neuroimaging/Aphasia Research Section at the Boston University Aphasia Research Center, Boston VAMC. Since then, I have conducted my own CT, MRI and fMRI aphasia research program, as well as assisting other investigators with neuroimaging data. My early structural neuroimaging studies (CT scan) focused on the relationship between lesion in cortical language areas and type of aphasia, as diagnosed with the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Exam (Broca's, Wernicke's, conduction, transcortical motor, anomic, etc.). Early research with Dr. Norman Geschwind, Dr. Michael Alexander, and Dr. Carole Palumbo focused on the relationship between extent of lesion in subcortical white matter pathways, and recovery of speech in nonfluent aphasia, and auditory language comprehension. Additional structural imaging research focused on lesion site and potential for good response following various speech therapy programs. This included research with Dr. Nancy Helm-Estabrooks on Melodic Intonation Therapy treatments in nonfluent aphasia; and with Dr. Errol Baker, on the Computer-assisted Visual Communication treatment program (C-ViC) in global aphasia.

Research Interests / Research Focus

My current research is focused on fMRI studies and recovery of speech and naming in nonfluent aphasia patients. Studies include overt naming fMRI, pre- and post- treatment with the noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) technique. This TMS research is funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH. It is conducted with Alvaro Pascual-Leone, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School. My VA-funded research also involves nonverbal semantic decision tasks for "picture/icon sentences" during fMRI with global aphasia patients.

Relevant Publications

Martin PI, Naeser MA, Theoret H, Tormos JM, Nicholas M, Kurland J, Fregni F, Seekins H, Doron K, Pascual-Leone A. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as Complementary Treatment for Aphasia.Semin Speech Lang,25:181-192, 2004. Naeser MA, Martin PI, Nicholas M, Baker EH, Seekins H, Kobayashi M, Theoret H, Fregni F, Maria-Tormos J, Kurland J, Doron KW, Pascual-Leone A. Improved Picture Naming in Chronic Aphasia after TMS to Part of Right Broca's Area, an Open-Protocol Study. Brain and Language 93(1): 95-105, 2005. Naeser MA, Martin PI, Nicholas M, Baker EH, Seekins H, Helm-Estabrooks N, Cayer-Meade C, Kobayashi M, Theoret H, Fregni F, Maria-Tormos J, Kurland J, Doron KW, Pascual-Leone A. Improved Naming after TMS Treatments in a Chronic, Global Aphasia Patient – Case Report. Neurocase 11:182-193, 2005. Naeser MA, Martin PI, Baker EH, Hodge SM, Sczerzenie SE, Nicholas M, Palumbo CL, Goodglass H, Wingfield A, Samaraweera R, Harris G, Baird A, Renshaw P, Yurgelun-Todd D. Overt Propositional Speech in Chronic Nonfluent Aphasia Studied with the Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast fMRI Method. NeuroImage 22:29-41, 2004. Martin PI, Naeser MA, Doron KW, Bogdan A, Baker EH, Kurland J, Renshaw P, Yurgelun-Todd D. Overt Naming in Aphasia Studied with a Functional MRI Hemodynamic Delay Design. NeuroImage, 28:194-204, 2005. Kurland J, Naeser MA, Baker EH, Doron K, Martin PI, Seekins HE, Bogdan A, Renshaw P, Yurgelun-Todd, D. Test-retest reliability of fMRI during nonverbal semantic decisions in moderate-severe nonfluent aphasia patients. Behavioural Neurol 15:87-97, 2004.

Link to NIH Formatted CV

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