PolyU neurolinguistic scholar empowers research through embracing motherhood

Research often draws inspiration from life itself. Individuals with diverse backgrounds enrich innovation. Dr Zhang Caicai, Associate Professor of the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, interwines her neurolinguistic expertise with her experiences as a mother, delving into the intricate world of child language development and disorders.

Dr Zhang’s research focuses on the processing and representation of language in the human brain, exploring its interactions with other cognitive domains, such as music and memory. Recently, she is conducting research on identifying biomarkers for childhood language disorders and developing theory-driven intervention strategies.

The motherhood role has inspired Dr Zhang’s research in child language development. She shared, “Over the past five years, my focus has shifted toward studying child language learning and developmental disorders. This shift was influenced by my experience as a mother of two, sparking a keen  interest in children’s language learning processes and the challenges some may face.”

In a new longitudinal study, Dr Zhang’s research team is tracking brain, cognition, and language development of Chinese children aged four to six. The research aims to identify early biomarkers that could predict typical language development and explore potential indicators of language disorders. Additionally, they are examining the role of sleep in memory consolidation and its possible relationship with developmental disorders.

To tackle significant societal problems, Dr Zhang has developed innovative approaches to investigate the efficacy of explicit versus implicit intervention strategies in Chinese children with developmental language disorder (DLD) through a randomized controlled trial.

The team's interdisciplinary approach uses top-notch neuroscience facitlities offered by the Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience (UBSN) lab at PolyU to combine cognitive behaviour, neural imaging, and machine learning methods in investigating disorders related to language skill acquisition in children. The study focuses on a hypothesised procedural circuit deficit in children with developmental stuttering, developmental language disorder, and dyslexia. The research aims to improve early diagnosis for more effective interventions.

Interdisciplinary research collaboration drives impactful outputs. Dr Zhang said, “I work closely with speech-language pathologists in the Speech Therapy Unit, as well as machine learning experts. Their expertise has inspired me to explore the neurocognitive foundations of childhood language disorders and develop effective intervention strategies.”

In the university, Dr. Zhang emphasises that diversity in academia can unite individuals with different backgrounds, experiences, and ideas, encompassing differences in race, gender, culture, and discipline. She also highlights the vital role that women, particularly unique perspectives of mothers, play in enriching academic discourse.