Roozbeh Behroozmand

PhD - Communication Sciences and Disorders
Northwestern University - 2011

MSc - Biomedical Engineering
Amirkabir University of Technology - 2006

BSc - Electrical Engineering
University of Tehran - 2003

Arjmandi MK, Behroozmand R. On the Interplay between Speech Perception and Production: Insights from Research and Theories. Frontiers in Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience 2024 - publications

Behroozmand R, Sarmukadam K, Fridriksson J. Aberrant Modulation of Broadband Neural Oscillations Reflects Vocal Sensorimotor Deficits in Post-stroke Aphasia. Clinical Neurophysiology 2023 - publications

Sarmukadam K, Behroozmand R. Neural Oscillations Reveal Disrupted Functional Connectivity Associated with Impaired Speech Auditory Feedback Control in Post-Stroke Aphasia. Cortex 2023 - publications

Khoshhal Mollasaraei Z, Behroozmand R. Impairment of the Internal Forward Model and Feedback Mechanisms for Vocal Sensorimotor Control in Post-Stroke Aphasia: Evidence from Directional Responses to Altered Auditory Feedback. Experimental Brain Research 2023 - publications

Friedman L, Lauber M, Behroozmand R, Fogerty D, Kunecki D, Berry-Kravis E, Klusek J. Atypical Vocal Quality in Women with the FMR1 Permutation: An Indicator of Impaired Sensorimotor Control. Experimental Brain Research  2023 - publications

Arabi A, Tarameshlu M, Behroozmand R, Ghelichi L. Correlation Between Auditory-perceptual Parameters and Acoustic Characteristics of Voice in Theater Actors. Middle East Journal of Rehabilitation and Health Studies  2023 - publications

Behroozmand R, Bonilha L, Rorden C, Hickok G, Fridriksson J. Neural Correlates of Impaired Vocal Feedback Control in Post-stroke Aphasia. Neuroimage  2022 - publications

Sarmukadam K, Behroozmand R. Aberrant Beta-band Brain Connectivity Predicts Speech Motor Planning Deficits in Post-Stroke Aphasia. Cortex  2022 - publications

The Breakthrough Star Award - Office of the Vice President for Research, University of South Carolina [2023]

Distinguished Research Service Award - Office of the Vice President for Research, University of South Carolina [2023]

AHSA Grant Review and Reviewer Training Travel Award - American Speech Language Hearing Association [2019]

AHSA Grant Review and Reviewer Training Travel Award - American Speech Language Hearing Association [2018]

ASHA Lessons for Success Travel Award - American Speech Language Hearing Association [2017]

Young Scientists Scholarship and Travel Award - Neuroinformatics Advanced Research Training Program, Marine Biological Laboratories [2012]

ASHA Meritorious Poster Recognition Award - American Speech Language Hearing Association [2012]

Joseph Levin Foundation Scholarship for Advanced Doctoral Studies in Communication Sciences and Disorders - Northwestern University [2010]

Top Student Award for Highest Academic Achievements - Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology [2006]

Associate Professor
Department of Speech Language and Hearing, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas [2023–Present]

Associate Professor
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina [2020–2023]

Assistant Professor
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina [2014–2020]

Post-doctoral Research Scholar
Human Brain Research Lab, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa [2011–2014]

Neural Mechanisms of Speech Production and Motor Control

In our lab, we utilize the EEG recording technique to investigate neural mechanisms of speech production and motor control. The goal of this research is to understand how different areas of the human brain are involved when speakers produce speech sounds and control different parameters of their voice.

Functional Neuroimaging

Another aspect of our research is related to measuring brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The fMRI recordings allow us to take a closer look at the brain structures that are activated during speech production and motor control. These data are useful to examine the sensory-motor networks of the human brain that facilitate human communication during speech.

Speech Disorder in Post-Stroke Aphasia

The goal of this research is to understand how stroke-induced damage to different brain areas can result in speech and language disorders in patients with aphasia. We utilize a combination of novel behavioral testing and neuroimaging technologies to delineate neural networks involved in speech production and motor control and their impairment in aphasia. These methodologies include Voxel-Base Lesion-Symptom-Mapping (VLSM) and Tractography-Based Connectome-Symptom-Mapping (CSM) analyses to study how damage to the gray matter and white matter tracts is related to pathological alteration of speech and language function in aphasia. The outcome of this research can promote the scientific and clinical knowledge for targeted treatment of speech and language disorders in patients with post-stroke aphasia.

Speech Disorder in Parkinson’s Disease

About 90% of patients with Parkinson’s disease develop speech disorders at some stages in their life. We currently have a number of ongoing research studies to better understand the neurological bases of speech motor disorders in Parkinson’s disease. The goal of these projects is to provide new knowledge that can contribute to the development of novel clinical diagnosis and treatment methods for speech disorders in patients with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological deficits.

Speech Disorder Treatment using High-Definition Neurostimulation Technology (HD-tDCS)

Our lab is currently conducting research on a funded project to investigate the effect of non-invasive neuro-stimulation on the mechanisms of speech production and motor control. The long-term goal of this project is to promote our knowledge about the application of neurostimulation as a clinical method for the treatment of speech motor disorder in patients with neurological diseases.

Biography

Dr. Behroozmand is an Associate Professor of Speech Language and Hearing and the Director of the Speech Neuroscience Lab at Callier Center in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas. Dr. Behroozmand has backgrounds in Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience and his research is focused on investigating the neural bases of speech production and sensory-motor control in the human brain. Dr. Behroozmand's lab utilizes a wide range of techniques including electrophysiology (EEG, ERP, ECoG), functional neuroimaging (fMRI), and high-definition transcranial brain stimulation (HD-tACS, HD-tDCS) to study sensory-motor mechanisms of speech in healthy individuals and patients with neurological disorders. The ultimate goal of this research is to gain knowledge that can be translated into the development of novel diagnosis and clinical treatment methods to enhance speech communication and improve the quality of life in patients with speech disorders.

NIH/NIDCD R01-DC018523 (PI)

$3,574,905 - [2021/03–2026/02]

Neural Bases of Vocal Sensorimotor Impairment in Aphasia.

NIH/NIDCD K01-DC015831 (PI)

$693,350 - [2017/05–2023/04]

Sensorimotor Processing of Auditory Feedback in Aphasia.

NIH/NIDCD R01-DC015260 (Co-I)

$1,660,047 - [2016/06–2021/05]

Neural Mechanisms of Vocal Communication in the Human Brain.

NIH/NIDCD R21-DC014170 (Co-I)

$402,875 - [2015/09–2017/08]

Speech Entrainment Treatment for Broca's Aphasia.