Research summary
Rhythm is fundamental to how humans communicate. Yet many aspects of how rhythm supports language development, speech disorders and social interaction remain unknown. As Canada Research Chair in Interdisciplinary Studies on Rhythm and Language Acquisition, Dr. Simone Falk is studying how the rhythms of speech, music and movement evolve together to enable communication.
She and her research team are exploring how rhythmic skills predict language development in children, examining the link between conversational rhythms and the ability to communicate. They are also studying how group singing and rhythmic games can improve social inclusion and speech skills in children and youth with communication difficulties. In addition, Falk’s team is probing how motor activity and speech patterns interact in early development. By combining brain imaging with artificial intelligence and artistic approaches, this work is deepening our understanding of language acquisition and will lead to practical strategies for families, educators and professionals.