Professional Bio

Broadly, my research focuses on how language differs across adulthood. My lab and I combine cognitive tasks, neuropsychological assessments, and neuroimaging measures to examine the relations between cognition, aging, and the brain. While much of our research has focused on age-related differences in language production, recently we have adopted a network science approach to examine semantic networks and aging. In addition to my research interests, I have also had the opportunity to lead neuroimaging centers, as the director of the Social, Life, & Engineering Sciences Imaging Center here for 10 years, and previously as the assistant and then associate director of the Brain Imaging and Analysis Center at Duke University. These roles have allowed me to develop multi-site imaging collaborations, and to develop expertise in technical issues such as assessing scanner stability and multi-site reliability. Moreover, these research and leadership positions have allowed me to mentor staff, students, and faculty developing MRI research projects.

Recent Representative Publications (*indicates student collaborator):

Wolna, A., Szewczyk, J., Diaz, M.T., Domagalik, A., Szwed, M., & Wodniecka, Z. (2024).  Domain-general and language-specific contributions to speech production in L2: an fMRI study using functional localizers. Scientific Reports, 14, 57. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-49375-9

Karimi, H.*, Diaz, M.T., & Wittenberg, E. (2023). Delayed onset facilitates subsequent retrieval of words during language comprehension. Memory & Cognition. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-023-01479-3

Lebkeuker, A.*, Cosgrove, A.L.*, Strober, L.B., Chiaravalloti, N.D., & Diaz, M.T. (2023). Multiple Sclerosis is associated with differences in semantic memory structure. Neuropsychology, 38(1), 42-57. NIHMS: 1919653. https://doi.org/10.1037/neu0000924

Zhang, H.* & Diaz, M.T. (2023). Resting state network segregation modulates age-related differences in language production. Neurobiology of Language, 4(2), 382–403. PMCID: PMC10403275. https://doi.org/10.1162/nol_a_00106

Zhang, H.* & Diaz, M.T. (2023). Task difficulty modulates age-related differences in functional connectivity during language production. Brain and Language, 240(105263). PMCID: PMC10164070 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandl.2023.105263

Cosgrove, A.L.*, Beaty, R.E., Diaz, M.T., Kenett, Y.N. (2023). Age differences in semantic network structure: Acquiring knowledge shapes semantic memory. Psychology & Aging, 38(2), 87-102. PMCID: PMC10033378. https://doi.org/10.1037/pag0000721

Diaz, M.T., Zhang, H.*, Cosgrove, A.L.*, Gertel, V.H.*, Troutman, S.B.W.*, & Karimi, H.* (2022). Neural sensitivity to semantic neighbors is stable across the adult lifespan. Neuropsychologia, 171, 1-11. PMCID: PMC10022434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2022.108237

Troutman, S.B.W.*, Madden, D.J., & Diaz, M.T. (2022). Cerebral white matter mediation of age-related differences in picture naming across adulthood. Neurobiology of Language, 3(2), 272-286. PMCID: PMC9169883 https://doi.org/10.1162/nol_a_00065

Zhang, H.*, Diaz, M.T., Guo, T., & Kroll, J.F. (2021). Language immersion and language training: Two paths to enhanced language regulation and cognitive control. Brain & Language, 223, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandl.2021.105043

Karimi, H.* & Diaz, M.T. (2021). Age-related differences in the retrieval of phonologically similar words during sentence processing: Evidence from ERPs. Brain & Language, 220, 1-17. PMCID: PMC8564888 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandl.2021.104982

Cosgrove, A.L.*, Kenett, Y.N., Beaty, R.E., & Diaz, M.T. (2021). Quantifying flexibility in thought: The resiliency of semantic networks differs across the lifespan. Cognition, 211, 104631. PMCID: PMC8058279  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2021.104631

Zhang, H.*, Bai, X., & Diaz, M.T. (2021). The intensity and connectivity of spontaneous brain activity in a language network relate to aging and language. Neuropsychologia, 154, 107784. PMCID: PMC7957965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107784

Diaz, M.T., Karimi, H.*, Troutman, S.B.W.*, Gertel, V.H.*, Cosgrove, A.L.*, & Zhang, H.* (2021). Neural sensitivity to phonological characteristics is stable across the lifespan. Neuroimage, 225, PMCID: PMC7812596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117511

Zhang, H.*, Gertel, V.H.*, Cosgrove, A.L.*, & Diaz, M.T. (2021). Age-related differences in resting-state and task-based network measures and cognition. Neurobiology of Aging,101, 262-272. PMCID: PMC8122017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.10.025

Karimi, H.* & Diaz, M.T. (2020). When phonological neighborhood density both facilitates and impedes: Age of acquisition and name agreement interact with phonological neighborhood during word production. Memory & Cognition, 48, 1061-1072. PMCID: PMC7787263. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-020-01042-4

Gertel, V.H.*, Zhang, H.*, & Diaz, M.T. (2020). Stronger right hemisphere functional connectivity supports executive aspects of language in older adults. Brain & Language, 206. PMCID: PMC7754257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandl.2020.104771

Gertel, V.H.*, Karimi, H.*, Dennis, N.A., Neely, K.A., & Diaz, M.T. (2020). Lexical frequency affects functional activation and accuracy in word naming among older and younger adults. Psychology & Aging, 35(4), 536–552. PMCID: PMC7805087. https://doi.org/10.1037/pag0000454

Troutman, S.B.W.* & Diaz, M.T. (2020). White matter disconnection is related to age-related phonological deficits. Brain Imaging & Behavior, 14(5), 1555-1565. PMCID: PMC7034773. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-019-00086-8