Research focus
Our team's program of research addresses a fundamental issue in human development: how constraints imposed by brain development and core neurocognitive processes impact language acquisition and language processing in autism. The study of developmental changes can shine a powerful light on the mechanisms of growth and change! We are interested in understanding how working memory, motor control, audiovisual integration, auditory processing, and other core processes, impact language acquisition, and study the long-term outcomes associated with even small early changes in development.
CALL lab updates
- new publication on the Low Verbal Investigatory SurveyWe are delighted to share a new publication describing the Low Verbal Investigatory Survey (LVIS); the PDF will be available shortly. You can download the LVIS here. Eigsti, I. M., Tenenbaum, E., & Naples, A. (in press). Sensitivity and specificity of the Low Verbal Investigatory Survey in a large, diverse, American sample. Molecular Autism.Posted on July 22, 2026
- Check out some of our new publications!Baumeister, F., Wolfer, P., Vila Borrellas, E., Solaimani, E., Eigsti, I.-M., & Durrleman, S. (2026). Associations between second-language proficiency and executive functions in autistic and neurotypical children. Open Mind, 10, 613-640. Bell, R. R., Thomas, H., Saffran, J. R., & Eigsti, I. M. (2025). A systematic review of statistical learning in autism spectrum disorder. Molecular […]Posted on July 9, 2026
- Congratulations to Dr. Stella Lue Shen on her PhD graduation!Posted on May 19, 2026
- MOLA 2026 – CALL lab presentersLab members Stella Shen, Rebecca Bell and Sarah Schillinger presented their work at the Meeting on Language in Autism, 2026.Posted on March 13, 2026
- Congratulations to Teresa Girolamo on her award!Dr. Girolamo was chosen as a recipient of the ASHA Early Career Contributions to Research Award! We are so proud of Teresa, former post-doc in the CALL lab.Posted on July 30, 2025
Land acknowledgement
We acknowledge that this is the territory of the Mohegan, Mashantucket Pequot, Eastern Pequot, Schaghticoke, Golden Hill Paugussett, Nipmuc, and Lenape Peoples, who have stewarded this land throughout the generations. We thank them for their strength and resilience in protecting this land, and aspire to uphold our responsibilities according to their example.











