Fridriksson, J., Newman-Norlund, R. D., Ahmadi, S., Willis, R., Salman, N., Warren, K., Guan, X., Yang, Y., Nelakuditi, S., Desai, R. H., Bonilha, L., Charney, J., & Rorden, C. (2026). Stroke Lesions as a Rosetta Stone for Language Model Interpretability. ArXiv.org. https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.04074
Arheix-Parras, S., Moore, S. R., & Desai, R. H. (2026). Improving Lexicosemantic Impairments in Post-Stroke Aphasia Using rTMS Targeting the Right Anterior Temporal Lobe. Brain Sciences, 16(1), 117. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16010117
Yang, X., Gao, C., Xiao, C., Riccardi, N., & Desai, R. H. (2026). Multifaceted neural representation of words in naturalistic language. ArXiv.org. https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.13297
Yi, J., Yin, J., Ghosal, R., Fridriksson, J., Desai, R. H., & Wang, Y. (2025). Uncovering Treatment Response Patterns with Topological Clustering of Brain Networks. 2025 IEEE International Conference on Big Data (BigData), 1268–1277. https://doi.org/10.1109/bigdata66926.2025.11401042
Gao, C., Chen, G., Shinkareva, S. V., & Desai, R. H. (2025). Is Representational Similarity Analysis Reliable? A Comparison with Regression. ArXiv.org. https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.00395
Deepa Tilwani, O’Reilly, C., Riccardi, N., Shalin, V. L., Dirk-Bart den Ouden, Fridriksson, J., Shinkareva, S. V., Sheth, A. P., & Desai, R. H. (2025). Benchmarking machine learning models in lesion-symptom mapping for predicting language outcomes in stroke survivors. Frontiers in Neuroimaging, 4, 1573816–1573816. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnimg.2025.1573816
Reilly, J., Shain, C., Borghesani, V., Kuhnke, P., Vigliocco, G., Peelle, J. E., Mahon, B. Z., Buxbaum, L. J., Majid, A., Brysbaert, M., Borghi, A. M., Deyne, S. D., Dove, G., Liuba Papeo, Pexman, P. M., Poeppel, D., Lupyan, G., Boggio, P., Hickok, G., & Gwilliams, L., ... Desai, R. H. (2024). What we mean when we say semantic: Toward a multidisciplinary semantic glossary. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-024-02556-7
Cora, C., Desai, R. H., & Lai, V. T. (2025). What does action do to object? The case of metaphoric action. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, 47(0). https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5rq492bs
Riccardi, N., Zhao, X., Dirk-Bart den Ouden, Fridriksson, J., Desai, R. H., & Wang, Y. (2023). Network-based statistics distinguish anomic and Broca’s aphasia. Brain Structure & Function, 229. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-023-02738-4
Riccardi, N., Schwen Blackett, D., Broadhead, A., den Ouden, D., Rorden, C., Fridriksson, J., Bonilha, L., & Desai, R. H. (2024). A Rose by Any Other Name: Mapping Taxonomic and Thematic Naming Errors Poststroke. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 36(10), 2251–2267. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_02236
Riccardi, N., Yang, X., & Desai, R. H. (2024). The Two Word Test as a semantic benchmark for large language models. Scientific Reports, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-72528-3
Lokala, U., Desai, R. H., Shalin, V. L., & Sheth, A. (2024). Artificial intelligence based detection of early cognitive impairment using language, speech, and demographic features: Model development and validation. Research Square (Research Square). https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4595656/v1
Riccardi, N., Nelakuditi, S., den Ouden, D. B., Rorden, C., Fridriksson, J., & Desai, R. H. (2024). Discourse- and lesion-based aphasia quotient estimation using machine learning. NeuroImage. Clinical, 42, 103602. Advance online publication.
Riccardi, N., Zhao, X., den Ouden, D. B., Fridriksson, J., Desai, R. H., & Wang, Y. (2023). Network-based statistics distinguish anomic and Broca's aphasia. Brain structure & function, 10.1007/s00429-023-02738-4. Advance online publication.
Desai, R. H., Hackett, C. T., Johari, K., Lai, V. T., & Riccardi, N. (2023). Spatiotemporal characteristics of the neural representation of event concepts. Brain and language, 246, 105328.
Johari, K., Tabari, F., & Desai, R. H. (2023). Right frontal HD-tDCS reveals causal involvement of time perception networks in temporal processing of concepts. Scientific reports, 13(1), 16658.
Johari K, Lai VT, Riccardi N*, Desai R. H. (2023). Temporal features of concepts are grounded in the time perception Networks: An EEG study. Brain and Language.
Riccardi N* Desai R. H. (2022). Discourse and the brain: Capturing meaning in the wild. In A. M. Garcia & A. Ibanez (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Semiosis and the Brain, Ch. 11, 174-189. New York: NY: Routledge.
Blackett D, Varkey J, Wilmkoetter J, Roth R, Andrews K, Busby N, Gleichgerrcht E, Desai R. H., Riccardi N, Basilakos A, Johnson LP, Kristinsson S, Johnson Norris L, Rorden C, Spell LA, Fridriksson J, Bonilha L (2022). Neural network bases of thematic semantic processing in language production. Cortex 156, 126-143.
Johari K, Riccardi N, Malyutina S, Modi M, Desai R. H. (2022). HD-tDCS of primary and higher-order motor cortex affects action word processing. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. DOI:10.3389/fnhum.2022.959455.
Gao G, Shinkareva SV, Desai R. H. (2022). SCOPE: The South Carolina Psycholinguistic Metabase. Behavior Research Methods. DOI:10.3758/s13428-022-01934-0.
Desai R. H., Tadimeti U, Riccardi N (2022). Proper and common names in the semantic system. Brain Structure and Function. DOI:10.1007/s00429-022-02593-9
Riccardi N, Rorden C, Fridriksson J, Desai R. H. (2022). Canonical sentence processing and the inferior frontal cortex: Is there a connection? Neurobiology of Language 3(2), 318-344.
Desai R. H. (2022). Are metaphors embodied? The neural evidence. Psychological Research. doi: 10.1007/s00426-021-01604-4.
Desai R. H., Riccardi N (2021). Cognitive neuroscience of language. In Routledge Handbook of Cognitive Linguistics, JR Taylor and X. Wen (Eds.)
Riccardi N, Yourganov G, Rorden C, Fridriksson, J, Desai R. H. (2019). Degradation of praxis brain networks and impaired comprehension of manipulable nouns in stroke. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience.
van Dam W, Almor A, Shinkareva SV, Kim J, Boiteau TW, Shay EA, Desai R. H. (2019). Distinct neural mechanisms underlying conceptual knowledge of manner and instrument verbs. Neuropsychologia 133, 107183.
Riccardi N, Yourganov G, Rorden C, Fridriksson J, Desai R.H. (2019). Dissociating action and abstract verb comprehension post-stroke. Cortex 120, 131-146.
Desai R. H. (2019). Access and Content of Abstract Concepts - Comment on “Words as social tools: Language, sociality, and inner grounding in abstract concepts” by Anna M. Borghi et al. Physics of Life Reviews.
Lai VT, Howerton, O, Desai R. H. (2019). Concrete processing of action metaphors: Evidence from ERP. Brain Research 1714, 202-209.
Reilly M, Howerton O, Desai R. H. (2019). Time-course of motor involvement in literal and metaphoric action sentence processing: A TMS study. Frontiers in Psychology. DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00371.
Desai R. H., Reilly M, van Dam W. (2018). The multifacted abstract brain. Phil. Trans. Royal Society B.
Desai R. H., Choi W, Henderson JH. (2018). Word frequency effects in naturalistic reading. Language, Cognition, and Neuroscience. DOI: 10.1080/23273798.2018.1527376
Speed, LJ, van Dam W, Vigliocco G, Desai RH. (2018). Movement speed affects speed language comprehension. Proceedings of the 40th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Soiety, Madison, WI.
Reilly M, Desai RH. (2017). Effects of semantic neighborhood density in concrete and abstract words, Cognition, 169, 46-53. [Data: Featural(taxonomic) semantic neighborhood density for 244K lexical items]
Van Dam WO, Desai RH. (2017). Embodied simulations are modulated by sentential perspective. Cognitive Science, 41(6), 1613-1638.
Speed LJ, Van Dam WO, Hirath P, Vigliocco G, & Desai RH (2017). Impaired comprehension of speed verbs in Parkinson's Disease. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 23, 5, 412-20.
van Dam W, Speed LJ, Lai VT, Vigliocco G, Desai RH (2017). Effects of motion speed in action representations. Brain and Language, 168, 47-56.
Desai RH, Choi W, Lai, VT, Henderson J (2016). Towards semantics in the wild: Activation to manipulable nouns in naturalistic reading. Journal of Neuroscience 36(14), 4050-4055.
Binder JR, Conant L, Humphries C, Fernandino L, Simons S, Aguilar M, Desai RH (2016). Towards a brain-based componential semantic representation. Cognitive Neuropsychology, 33, 130-174.
Lai VT, Desai RH (2016). The grounding of temporal metaphors. Cortex 76, 43-50.
van Dam W, Desai RH (2016). The semantics of syntax: The grounding of transitive and intransitive constructions. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience28(5), 693-709.
Gleichgerrcht E., Fridriksson J., Rorden C., Nesland T., Desai RH, Bonilha, L. (2016). Separate neural systems support representations for actions and objects during narrative speech in post-stroke aphasia. NeuroImage: Clinical10, 140-145.
Henderson JM, Choi W, Luke SG, Desai RH. (2015). Neural correlates of fixation duration in natural reading: Evidence from fixation-related fMRI. NeuroImage 119, 390-397.
van Dam W, Decker S, Durbin J, Vendemia J, Desai RH. (2015). Resting state signatures of domain- and demand-specific working memory performance. NeuroImage 118, 174-182.
Desai RH, Herter T, Riccardi N, Rorden C, Fridriksson J. (2015). Concepts within reach: Action performance predicts action language processing in stroke. Neuropsychologia 71, 217-224. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.04.006.
Fernandino L, Binder JR, Desai RH, Pendl SL, Humphries CJ, Gross WL, Conant LL, Seidenberg MS (2015). Concept Representation Reflects Multimodal Abstraction: A Framework for Embodied Semantics. Cerebral Cortex. doi:10.1093/cercor/bhv020.
Lai VT, van Dam W, Conant L, Binder JR, Desai RH (2015). Familiarity differentially affects right hemisphere contributions to processing metaphors and literals. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
Choi W, Desai RH, Henderson JR (2014). The neural substrates of natural reading: a comparison of normal and nonword text using eyetracking and fMRI. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
Liebenthal L, Desai RH, Humphries C, Sabri M, Desai A (2014). The functional organization of the left STS: a large scale meta-analysis of PET and fMRI studies of healthy adults. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
Graves, W, Binder, JR, Desai, RH, Humphries, C, Stengel, B, Seidenberg, MS. (2014). Anatomy is strategy: Skilled reading differences associated with structural connectivity differences in the reading network. Brain and Language.
Mano, Q.R., Humphries, C., Desai, R., Seidenberg M.S., Osmon, D.C., Stengel, B., Binder, J.R. (2013). The role of occipitotemporal cortex in reading: Reconciling stimulus, task, and lexicality effects. Cerebral Cortex.
Desai, R., Conant, L., Binder, J.R., Park, H., Seidenberg, M.S. (2013). A piece of the action: Modulation of sensory-motor regions by action idioms and metaphors. NeuroImage.
Fernandino, L., Conant, L., Binder, J.R., Blindauer, K., Hiner, B., Spangler, K., Desai, R.H. (2013). Where is the action? Action sentence processing in Parkinson’s disease. Neuropsychologia, 51, 1510-1517.
Fernandino, L., Conant, L., Binder, J.R., Blindauer, K., Hiner, B., Spangler, K., Desai, R.H. (2012). Parkinson’s disease disrupts both automatic and controlled processing of action verbs. Brain and Language.
Graves, W., Binder, J., Seidenberg, M., Desai, R. (2012) Neural correlates of semantic processing in reading aloud. In M. Faust (Ed.), Handbook of the Neuropsychology of Language. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.
Binder, J.R., Desai, R. (2011). The neurobiology of semantic memory. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(11), 527-536.
Desai, RH, Binder, JR, Conant, LL, Mano Q, Seidenberg, MS (2011). The neural career of sensory-motor metaphors. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience.
Graves, W., Binder, J.R., Desai, R., Conant, L., Seidenberg, M.S. (2010).Neural correlates of implicit and explicit conceptual combination. NeuroImage, doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.06.055.
Graves, W., Desai, R., Humpries, C., Seidenberg, M.S., Binder, J.R. (2010).Neural systems for reading aloud: A multiparametric approach. Cerebral Cortex, 20(8), 1799-1815.
Liebenthal E., Desai R., Ramachandran, B., Ellingson, M., Binder, J.R. (2010). Specialization along the left superior temporal sulcus for phonemic and non-phonemic categorization. Cerebral Cortex.
Desai R., Binder JR, Conant LL, Seidenberg MS. (2009). Activation of sensory-motor areas in sentence comprehension. Cerebral Cortex, doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhp115.
Binder, JR, Desai, R, Graves, W, Conant, LL. (2009). Where is the semantic system? A Critical Review and Meta-Analysis of 120 Functional Neuroimaging Studies. Cerbral Cortex, doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhp055.
Saad, Z, Glen, D, Chen, G, Beauchamp, M, Desai, R, Cox R. (2009). A new method for improving functional-to-structural MRI alignment using local Pearson correlation. NeuroImage 44(3), 839-848.
Desai, R, Liebenthal, E, Waldron, E, Binder, JR (2008). Left posterior temporal regions are sensitive to auditory categorization. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 20(7), 1174-1188.
Sabri, M, Binder, JR, Desai, R, Medler, DA, Leitl, MD, Possing, E, Liebenthal, E (2008). Attentional and linguistic interactions in speech perception.NeuroImage 39(3), 1444-1456.
Desai R. H. (2007). A model of Frame and Verb Compliance in language acquisition. Neurocomputing 70(13), 2273-2287.Desai R. (2002). Bootstrapping in miniature language acquisition. Cognitive Systems Research, 3(1), 15-23.
Desai R. H., Conant L, Waldron E, Binder JR (2006). The effects of phonological complexity and task difficulty on past tense processing: An FMRI study.Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 18(2), 278-297.
Binder JR, Medler DA, Desai R. H., Conant L, Liebenthal E (2005). Some neurophysiological constraints on models of word naming. NeuroImage, 27(3), 677-693.
Desai R. H., Liebenthal E, Possing ET, Waldron E, Binder JR (2005). Volumetric vs. surface-based intersubject alignment for localization of auditory cortex activation. NeuroImage 26(4), 1019-1029.
Cheng HD, Desai R. H. (1998). Scene classification by fuzzy local moments. International Journal of Pattern Recognition and Artificial Intelligence, 12(7), 921-938.
Desai R. H., Patil R. (1996). SALO: Combining simulated annealing and local optimization for efficient global optimization. Proceedings of the Ninth Florida AI Research Symposium, 233-237. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Dhar A, Desai R. H. (1995). High-dimensional modeling with wavelets. Los Alamos National Labs Technical Report LA-UR-95-4437.
Cheng HD, Desai R. H. (1994). A fuzzy moment approach to character recognition. Proceedings of the Third Annual Conference on Fuzzy Theory and Technology, 421-424. Durham, NC.
Desai R. H., Cheng HD. (1994). Pattern recognition by local radial moments. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Pattern Recognition, 2, 168-171. Jerusalem, Israel.
