Making Sense of Right Hemisphere Discourse Using RHDBank

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Linguistics
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Right hemisphere brain damage (RHD) frequently results in pragmatic language disorders affecting discourse.
• Current understanding and treatment of RHD-related communication deficits remain limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce RHDBank, a shared multimedia database designed to support research and education on RHD communication.
• To provide accessible resources for clinicians, researchers, educators, and students.

Main Methods:

• Development of a standardized discourse protocol eliciting various discourse types (e.g., conversation, storytelling).
• Inclusion of cognitive and neglect measures alongside video-recorded, transcribed language samples.
• Database currently comprises 24 adults with RHD and 24 controls.

Main Results:

• RHDBank enables micro- and macrolinguistic discourse analysis for RHD research.
• Illustrative analyses demonstrate the database's utility across different populations.
• Development of educational materials, including tutorials, using database case studies.

Conclusions:

• RHDBank serves as a valuable shared resource to advance knowledge of RHD communication.
• The database aims to bridge gaps in understanding and enhance clinical management strategies for individuals with RHD.