RESEARCH

* dyslexia        * visual attention       * temporal processing       * neural networking

I am attempting to understand how we come to process words and word properties through research examining neuro-physiological and -anatomical contributors to different forms of dyslexia.  I have a keen interest in relationships between visual attention and  reading processes in particular.  Ultimately, the goal of this work is to alleviate forms of dyslexia, but the journey to this end has raised some larger questions such as:  What role(s) does visual attention play in foveal and parafoveal processing and how does it work?  What are the components of temporal processing and are they disrupted in dyslexics (if so, how?)?  Is temporal processing neurologically represented and if so, at what level (cellular, modular, patterns of activation)?  

HERE AT MGH-NMR

I am part of a great team here at MGH-NMR and the Harvard Medical School:        Russell Poldrack and the Poldrack Lab (Gary, Raj, Juliana, Jill, Reuben),  Al Galaburda, Alec Marantz (MIT) and others.

At MGH-NMR, I am involved in research using magnetic resonance imaging (and MEG) to investigate the brain processes underlying reading and reading disorders.  My duties here include design, implementation, and execution of functional MRI studies, analysis of functional MRI data, and neuropsychological testing of normal and reading-impaired subjects.  Right now we're examining language and auditory temporal processing in dyslexics.   Soon we'll be exploring asepcts of visual attention:  how it works and how it can be applied to reading. 

C.V.

Ph.D Cognitive Neuropsychology Macquarie Australia 2000 M.Ed. Education Brock Canada 1995   Education Notre Dame America 1992 B.A. Psychology McMaster Canada 1991

R

Postdoctoral Fellow Massachusetts General Hospital, NMR Center, Harvard Medical School America 2001- Lecturer                                      * Dyslexia and Reading:  Neuropsychological approaches  Mind, Brain & Education, Harvard University America 2001 (Sept) Lecturer                                     * Neuropsychology                     * Physiological Psychology Trent University Canada 2000 Research Psychologist Manly Hospitals Australia 1997-1998 Guest Lecturer                     Tutor                             Research Assistant                    Macquarie University Australia 1995-1999 Research Assistant       Residence Director Notre Dame Canada 1992 Research Consultant Literacy Board Canada 1993-1994 Tutor                             Research Assistant Brock University Canada 1993-1995 Research Assistant Chedoke McMaster Hospital Canada 1994-1995

esearch and Teaching

Clinical Work (Neuropsychological, Cognitive & Language/Reading Assessments)

Psychological Consultant   Upper Grand & Wellington District School Boards Canada 1999-2000 Psychological Associate Peterborough Regional Health Centre (CivicHospital) Canada 1999 Psychologist Manly Hospital Australia 1997-1998 Psychologist Private Practice Australia 1996-1998 Psychological Consultant Psychometrist Niagara Acquired Brain Injury Assoc.,  St. Catharines Workers' Compensation Board Canada 1994-1995 Psychometrist Reading Clinic at  Brock University Canada 1993-1995

CIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship From Canada! for research here at MGH-NMR with Russ 2001-2004 Visiting Researcher Fellowship Stanford University, America 1999 Overseas Postgraduate Research Scholarship (tuition and medical) DEET, Australia 1995-1998 Travelling Grants Macquarie Univeristy,   Australia 1996, 1997, 1998 Henry Jackman Award Governor of Ontario, via Phi Delta Kappa, Canada 1995 G. Allan Research Grant Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada 1993-1994 Community Service Award Oakville Rotary Club, Canada 1987 Travel Grant (Yukon, Canada) Halton Brd. of Educ., Canada 1987

Conference Presentations (9 published abstracts from this list)

Clinical Neuropsychologists Annual Meeting (Colorado, 2000), Psychonomics (Texas 1998), EPC (Tasmania 1998), Sydney Postgraduate Conference (Australia 1996-1998), International Congress of Psychology (Montreal 1995-1997), Tennet (Montreal 1997-1998), Phi Delta Kappa Annual Meeting (1995)

Publications

Cestnick L. (2001).  Cross modality temporal processing in phonological dyslexics.  Brain and Cognition.  "In press".  view or download here

Cestnick L., & Jerger J. (2000).  Auditory temporal processing and lexical/nonlexical reading in developmental dyslexics.  J Am Acad Audiol 11, 501-513.

Cestnick L., & Coltheart M. (1999)  The relationship between language processing and visual processing in developmental dyslexia.  Cognition, July 30, 71(3), 231-55.  http://rosella.bhs.mq.edu.au/~max/Papers/Ternus.rtf                                                                                   CLICK HERE FOR A DEMONSTRATION OF THE TERNUS EFFECT** (need Shockwave)

Cestnick L. (1998).  Does surface dyslexia exist:  the answer lies in statistical methods.  Brain and Language, Special Edition, 37(1), 190-193.

Cestnick L. (1998).  Surface dyslexia and other interesting reading patterns:  new challenges for theorists.  Brain and Language, Special Edition, 37(1), 193-196.

Manuscripts to be submitted:

Cestnick L. (2000).  Neuroanatomy, attention, magnocellular function and dyslexia:  bringing it together. (A theoretical paper dicussing potential neuroanatomical/neurophysiological causes of behavioural patterns observed in dyslexics and nondyslexics.  New theories of visual and auditory processing and how these may relate to phonological and surface dyslexia reading patterns are offered -- with a stronger focus on the visual systems potential relatedness to reading.). 

Cestnick L. & Jerger J. (2000).  Auditory temporal processing, lexical/nonlexical reading and  speech perception in developmental dyslexics.  J Am Acad Audiol

Knight D., & Cestnick L. (2000).  High and low IQ poor readers:  remediation comparisons.

Medical & Other

Cestnick L. (1998).  Lyme disease in Australia.  Australian and New Zealand Journal of  Public Health, Editorial, 22(5), 524.

Award winning paper for contributions to Ontario Education:

Cestnick L. (1995).  Motivation, autonomy and romanticism:  educating our children toward societal  awareness and development.  (published in several locations)

Book (coming)

Cestnick L. & Perry R. (2001).  Cockatoos. 

Theses:

Cestnick L. (1999).  Vision, audition and dyslexia.  Doctoral Dissertation, Macquarie University, Australia.  Supervisor, Max Coltheart. 

Cestnick L. (1995).  Improving discourse reading comprehension of adults with brain injuries.  Masters Dissertation, Brock University, Canada.  Supervisor, Jim Wagner. 

Current Professional Memberships

Nationality: