{"id":244,"date":"2018-05-25T09:38:26","date_gmt":"2018-05-25T09:38:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ub.edu\/APAL\/?page_id=244"},"modified":"2026-04-01T09:43:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T09:43:21","slug":"equip-2-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ub.edu\/APAL\/?page_id=244&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row 0=””][vc_column 0=””][vc_single_image image=”420″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_separator 0=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row 0=””][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”333″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text 0=””]<\/p>\n

Dr. Ferran Pons<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Professor at the Department of Cognition, Development and Psychology of Education (University of Barcelona \u2013 Institute of Neurosciences)
\nPhD in Psychology (2004), University of Barcelona
\nEmail: ferran.pons@ub.edu<\/p>\n

ORCID: https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5919-8590<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”peacoc” style=”dotted”][vc_column_text]My interests are focused on the cognitive mechanisms and factors involved in language acquisition. My research explores different aspects of speech perception from birth to the production of the first words. I am interested in exploring the role of experience as well as the perceptual reorganization observed during the first year of life. My current research examines infant’s ability to perceive the relationship between the auditory and visual speech, as well as the mechanisms involved in these processes.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row 0=””][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”331″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text 0=””]<\/p>\n

Dra Laura Bosch<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Emeritus Professor at the Department of Cognition, Development and Psychology of Education (University of Barcelona \u2013 Institute of Neurosciences)
\nAPAL Group coordinator
\nPhD in Psychology (1990), University of Barcelona
\nE-mail: laurabosch@ub.edu<\/p>\n

ORCID: https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6536-4855<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”peacoc” style=”dotted”][vc_column_text]My research has focused primarily on the early stages of language acquisition in both populations following a normal development, such as risk populations. Consider different child development milestones such as the initial capacities to recognize and differentiate the mother tongue of other languages, changes in speech perception during the first year of life, ways of segmenting initial word recognition Family of words and the construction of the first lexicon. We study the role of linguistic exposure in the acquisition of the specific characteristics of the mother tongue comparing populations of children who grow up in environments monolingual and bilingual families. A general objective of the research is currently underway to explore the connection between the baby and the initial capacities of linguistic and cognitive growth that occurs in the second year of life.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row 0=””][vc_column 0=””][vc_separator 0=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”460″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Dra. Gaye Soley<\/b><\/h2>\n

Assistant Professor (Serra Hunter) at the Department of Cognition, Development and Psychology of Education (University of Barcelona \u2013 Institute of Neurosciences)
\nEmail: gayesoley@ub.edu<\/span><\/p>\n

ORCID: <\/span>https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6333-6017<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”peacoc” style=”dotted”][vc_column_text 0=””]I am interested in how children learn to navigate the complexities of their social environment. One line of my research examines how various attentional biases are formed and what social and epistemic roles these early biases play in shaping children\u2019s understanding of the world. In a second line of research, I investigate how children\u2019s conceptions of social groups develop and how these conceptions are connected to cultural constructions such as values, experiences, and knowledge.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”383″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Dr. Joan Birul\u00e9s<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Assistant Professor at the Department of Cognition, Development and Psychology of Education (University of Barcelona \u2013 Institute of Neurosciences)
\nEmail: joanbirules@ub.edu<\/p>\n

ORCID: https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9708-4922<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”peacoc” style=”dotted”][vc_column_text 0=””]In general, I am interested in understanding how children navigate the social and multisensory environment around them, and how these early perceptual processes provide the foundation for the acquisition of language, music, and social learning. In my current project, we explore how natural interaction patterns in different cultural and linguistic environments facilitate this development.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row 0=””][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”332″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text 0=””]<\/p>\n

Dra. Marta Ramon-Casas<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Professor at the Department of Cognition, Development and Psychology of Education (University of Barcelona \u2013 Institute of Neurosciences)
\nPhD in Psychology (2009), University of Barcelona
\nEmail: mramon@ub.edu<\/p>\n

ORCID: https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2574-5589<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”peacoc” style=”dotted”][vc_column_text]My interests are about the acquisition of vocabulary, phonological representation of the first lexicon and bilingualism. What are the differences between the first words of a child a bilingual and monolingual? There are differences between bilingual depending on the degree of similarity between their two languages? And what processes take place in the differential recognition and learning words? I am interested also issues in speech processing risk populations, studying the possible presence of difficulties in the recognition vocabulary and phonological representation.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”384″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Caetana Lombard\u00eda<\/b><\/h2>\n

PhD Student (PhD in Brain, Cognition and Behaviour) at the Department of Cognition, Development and Psychology of Education (University of Barcelona \u2013 Institute of Neurosciences)<\/p>\n

BSc Psychology (U. van Amsterdam, 2021)<\/p>\n

Email: c.lombardia.ramil@ub.edu<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”peacoc” style=”dotted”][vc_column_text 0=””]My interests are related to the development of social cognition across the lifespan and to how the sociolinguistic environment can modulate these processes. Currently, at the APAL lab, I am investigating the influence of the linguistic environment on social categorization during early childhood. [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”458″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]<\/span><\/p>\n

Carolina Cabrales<\/b><\/h2>\n

PhD Student (PhD in Cognitive Science and Language) at the Department of Cognition, Development and Psychology of Education (University of Barcelona \u2013 Institute of Neurosciences)<\/p>\n

BSc en Psicologia (U. Polit\u00e8cnico Grancolombiano, 2017)<\/p>\n

M\u00e0ster en Ci\u00e8ncies Cognitives\u00a0(Universit\u00e9 de Neuchatel, 2025)<\/span>
\nEmail: caro.cabrales@gmail.com<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”peacoc” style=”dotted”][vc_column_text 0=””]My research focuses on early language development and how social interactions influence infants\u2019 audiovisual attention. I am particularly interested in exploring how familiarity with non-parental caregivers may modulate attention to speech cues during exposure to infant-directed speech. Additionally, I aim to address these questions in naturalistic settings, where infants interact and move freely, in order to understand how real interaction dynamics may differ from those observed in controlled, screen-based studies.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”337″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]<\/span><\/p>\n

Naila Ortega<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n
\n

Lab Manager<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”peacoc” style=”dotted”][vc_column_text]As a member of the APAL research team, my work involves recruiting families, managing appointments, and administering tests. I am interested in the development of communicative skills in infants and the language acquisition of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This work is gratifying for me as it allows me to contribute to scientific advancement in these fields.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Previous members<\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row 0=””][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”207″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text 0=””]<\/p>\n

Dr. Cl\u00e9ment Fran\u00e7ois<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Post-doctoral Researcher
\nPhD in Neuroscience from Universit\u00e9 Aix-Marseille
\nEmail: fclement24@hotmail.com[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”peacoc” style=”dotted”][vc_column_text]I’m interested in the relationship between music and speech processing and in the mechanisms of brain plasticity occuring in development. I previously studied the influence of musical expertise and training on speech segmentation in children and adults using both behavioral and electrophysiological methods. I am currently running a project in collaboration with the neonatology unit of Sant Joan De Deu Hospital, with Dr Rodriguez-Fornells and Dr Bosch. The main aim of this project is to understand how the cortical correlates of speech segmentation (as measured by EEG) develop during the first year of human infant life, from few days after birth to 6 and then 10 months of age, in full-term and in pre-term infants.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”344″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Laia Marcet<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

PhD Student. Programa Cerebro, Cognici\u00f3n y Conducta (Universidad de Barcelona, 2020 \u2013 Actualidad)
\nM\u00e1ster en Investigaci\u00f3n en Comportamiento y Cognici\u00f3n (Universidad de Barcelona, 2019)
\nGrado en Ciencias Biom\u00e9dicas (Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Barcelona, 2018)
\nEmail: laiamarcet@ub.edu[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”peacoc” style=”dotted”][vc_column_text]My research focuses on studying the development of sociolinguistic awareness in children born in bilingual environments. I am interested in exploring the ability to form associations between different speakers and the language they use. One of my main objectives is to determine the age at which this ability appears in bilingual children and which linguistic factors may promote or hinder the formation of these associations.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”343″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Dra. Beatriz de Diego L\u00e1zaro<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Lecturer at departamento de psicolog\u00eda de la Universidad de Valladolid
\nPhD in Speech and audition (2019), Universidad Estatal de Arizona (EEUU).<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”peacoc” style=”dotted”][vc_column_text]My research focuses on language learning and the development of executive functions in children with hearing loss, both monolingual and multilingual. Our studies include behavioral tests, eye-tracking technology, and electroencephalography (EEG) with the aim of studying the potential impact of hearing loss on a child’s development in the short and long term.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”345″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Elisa Marrodan<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Estudiante de doctorado (Ciencia Cognitiva y del Lenguaje)
\nM\u00e1ster en Direcci\u00f3n y Gesti\u00f3n Sanitaria , Universidad Atl\u00e1ntico del Medio (2022)
\nGrado en Logopedia, Universidad de Valencia (2021)
\nDept. Cognici\u00f3n, Desarrollo y Psicolog\u00eda de la Educaci\u00f3n.
\nEmail: emarrove17@alumnes.ub.edu[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”peacoc” style=”dotted”][vc_column_text]Currently, my research focuses on the syntactic processing of oral language and executive function in preschool and school-aged children from monolingual and bilingual backgrounds. Specifically, I delve into the role that animacy cues and word order play in the oral processing of complex sentences and their relationship with executive function processes, such as working memory and inhibitory control.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”462″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Carlota Saumell<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Master\u2019s Student (Cognitive Science and Language \u2013 Universitat de Barcelona, 2018)
\nBachelor\u2019s degree in Literature Studies (Universitat de Barcelona, 2014)
\nBachelor\u2019s degree in Advertising and PR (Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 2012)
\nEmail: carlota.saumell@gmail.com[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”peacoc” style=”dotted”][vc_column_text]I\u2019m interested in the developmental stages of social cognition from infancy to childhood. My research focuses on the influence that the environment of a child (i.e. linguistic experience, cultural background) might have during the establishment of the child\u2019s social categorization processes and the social and cognitive consequences that might accompany this categorization.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”100″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Jorgina Sol\u00e9
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

External Collaborator
\nPediatric Psychologist
\nMasters in Clinical Psychology and Health (University of Barcelona, 2012)[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”peacoc” style=”dotted”][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”210″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Jessica S\u00e1nchez-Gal\u00e1n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Research Assistant
\nSpeech Therapist
\nMaster in Cognitive Science and Language (University of Barcelona, 2015)
\nEmail: jsanchez-galan@ub.edu[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”peacoc” style=”dotted”][vc_column_text]I\u2019m a speech therapist and my research focuses on the cognitive effects associated to bilingualism during the first year of life. Specifically, I\u2019m interest in how infants develop their executive function skills.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][vc_single_image image=”93″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Dra Melania Figueras<\/p>\n

Ph.D in Psychology (UB-2011)[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][vc_single_image image=”99″][vc_column_text]Fina Ferrer
\nPediatric Psychologist[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][vc_single_image image=”101″][vc_column_text]Helena Molin\u00e9
\nResearch Assistant[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][vc_single_image image=”102″][vc_column_text]Dra. Irune Fern\u00e1ndez-Prieto
\nPh.D in Psychology (UB-2016)[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][vc_single_image image=”106″][vc_column_text]Dra. Maria Teixid\u00f3
\nPh.D in Psychology (UB-2017)[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][vc_single_image image=”95″][vc_column_text]Dra. Anna Mart\u00ednez
\nPh.D in Psychology (UB-2018)[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row 0=””][vc_column][vc_column_text 0=””]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row 0=””][vc_column 0=””][vc_single_image image=”420″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_separator 0=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row 0=””][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”333″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text 0=””] Dr. Ferran Pons Professor at the Department of Cognition, Development and Psychology of Education (University of Barcelona \u2013 Institute of Neurosciences) PhD in Psychology (2004), University of Barcelona Email: ferran.pons@ub.edu ORCID: https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5919-8590 [\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”peacoc” style=”dotted”][vc_column_text]My interests are focused on the cognitive mechanisms…<\/p>\n

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