Research Group

Current collaborations on developing research project:

“Cortical representations of spoken word processing and exploration of the neurobiological language-action model”

 UCC Collaborators: Dr Liam Marnane (Electrical Engineering), Dr Kingshuk Roy Choudhury (Statistics), Dr Geraldine Boylan (Paediatrics and Child Health).

Recent Publications

Chenery, H.J., Pettigrew, C.M., & McGrath, J. (2000). Identity and semantic priming in schizophrenia using a letter search task. Brain and Language, 74 (3), 448-452.

Pettigrew, C.M. , Murdoch, B.E., Chenery, H.J., & Kei, J. (2004). The relationship between the mismatch negativity (MMN) and psycholinguistic models of spoken word processing. Aphasiology, 18 (1), 3-28.

Pettigrew, C.M. , Murdoch, B.E., Kei, J., Chenery, H.J., Sockalingam, R., Ponton, C.W., Finnigan, S., & Alku, P. (2004). Processing of English words with fine acoustic contrasts and simple tones: a mismatch negativity study. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 15 (1), 47-66.

Pettigrew, C.M. , Murdoch, B.E., Ponton, C.W., Chenery, H.J., Kei, J., & Alku, P. (2004). Subtitled videos and mismatch negativity (MMN) investigations of spoken word processing. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 15 (7), 469-485.

Pettigrew, C.M. , Murdoch, B.E., Ponton, C.W., Finnigan, S., Alku, P., Kei, J., Sockalingam, R., & Chenery, H.J. (2004). Automatic auditory processing of English words as indexed by the mismatch negativity (MMN), using a multiple deviant paradigm. Ear and Hearing, 25 (3), 284-301.

Finnigan, S., Rose, S.E., Walsh, M., Griffin, M., Janke, A.L., McMahon, K.L., Gillies, R., Strudwick, M.W., Pettigrew, C.M., Semple, J., Brown, J., Brown, P., Chalk, J.B. (2004). Correlation of quantitative EEG in acute stroke with 30 day NIHSS score: A comparison with diffusion and perfusion MRI. Stroke, 35, 899-903.

Pettigrew, C.M. , Murdoch, B.E., Kei, J., Ponton, C.W., Alku, P., & Chenery, H.J. (2005). The mismatch negativity (MMN) response to complex tones and spoken words in individuals with aphasia. Aphasiology, 19 (2), 131-163.

Pettigrew, C.M. (2006). Bridging the gap: How therapists-in-training can facilitate research for clinicians. Physical Therapy Reviews, 11, 205.

Pettigrew, C.M., & O’Toole, C. (in press). Dysphagia evaluation practices of speech and language therapists in Ireland: Clinical assessment and instrumental examination decision-making. Dysphagia.

Research Interests

• Normal and pathological adult speech and language processing:
• Electrophysiological investigations (MMN, N400, P600)
• Neurophysiological models (e.g. Hebbian Cell Assemblies)
• Adult neurogenic communication disorders (i.e. aphasia, dyspraxia, dysarthria), resulting from acquired brain injury (stroke, traumatic brain injury), neurodegenerative disorders (dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, MND etc)
• Speech and language processing in pathological populations (paediatric and adult)
• Electrophysiological/neuroimaging measures as clinical diagnostic tools in communication disorders.
• Methodology of electrophysiological investigations of speech and language: digital signal processing, statistical methods of data analysis

Catharine Pettigrew

Dr Catharine Pettigrew gained her undergraduate Honours degree in Speech Pathology in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, in 1999.  She then studied full time for 4 years at the University of Queensland to gain her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. During her doctoral studies, Catharine investigated automatic auditory processing of speech and tones using an auditory event-related potential called the “mismatch negativity” (MMN), in normal individuals and individuals with aphasia following a stroke. Catharine’s area of research, clinical and teaching expertise is adult neurogenic communication disorders. She is currently a member of the Experimental Psychology Society, and is Vice-Chair of the Rehabilitation and Therapy Research Society of Ireland.