Why are children able to acquire highly sophisticated language abilities without needing to be taught? What are the neurobiological and neurophysiological processes that underpin human speech and language, and how do they go awry in developmental and acquired disorders? Which genetic factors contribute to this remarkable suite of human skills, and are there evolutionary precursors that we can study in other species?
This unique CSHL course, in its fifth iteration, addresses these core questions about the bases and origins of speech and language, through talks, interactive sessions, keynotes and debates, involving leading experts from a range of disciplines. It integrates the state-of-the-art from complementary perspectives, including development, cognitive models, neural basis, gene identification, functional genomics, model systems and comparative/evolutionary studies.
Marina Bedny, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Pascal Belin, Aix-Marseille University, France,
Karen Emmorey, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Evelina Fedorenko, MIT, Cambridge, MA
Julia Fischer, Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, Goettingen, Germany
Tecumseh Fitch, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Stephanie Forkel, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Netherlands ,
Liberty Hamilton, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Catherine Hobaiter, University of St Andrews, United Kingdom,
Christian Kell, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
Genevieve Konopka, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Mairéad MacSweeney, University College London, United Kingdom
Robert Seyfarth, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Daniela Vallentin, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
Sonja Vernes, The University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Netherlands
The course will be held at the Laboratory's Banbury Conference Center located on the north shore of Long Island. All participants stay within walking distance of the Center, close to tennis court, pool and private beach.
Support & Stipends
This course is supported with funds generously provided by: Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation
Stipends are available to offset tuition costs as follows:
Interdisciplinary Fellowships (transitioning from outside biology) & Scholarships (transitioning from other biological disciplines) (Helmsley Charitable Trust)
International applicants (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)
Please indicate your eligibility for funding in your stipend request submitted when you apply to the course. Stipend requests do not affect selection decisions made by the instructors.
Cost (including board and lodging): $2,985 USD
No fees are due until you have completed the full application process and are accepted into the course. Students accepted into the course should plan to arrive by early evening on July 25 and plan to depart after lunch on July 31.
Before applying, ensure you have 1) Personal statement/essay; 2) Letter(s) of recommendation; 3) Curriculum vitae/resume (optional); 4) Financial aid request (optional). More details
If you are not ready to fully apply but wish to express interest in applying, receive a reminder two weeks prior to the deadline, and tell us about your financial aid requirements, click below: