NCCR researchers led a successful workshop on Experimental Psycholinguistic Methods for Underdescribed Languages. The workshop was held in collaboration with the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP) and the Chana Scientific Research Station, for early-career researchers from interdisciplinary backgrounds. The workshop spanned two weeks, with the first week devoted to lectures, tutorials, and lab-based practice at PUCP in Lima, and the second week dedicated to fieldwork and hands-on experimental methods in the Amazonian research context at the Chana Scientific Research Station in Pucallpa.
This English-Spanish bilingual workshop combined morning lectures with hands-on afternoon tutorials and covered key methods in psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics, including:
Introduction to Psycho-/Neurolinguistics With PUCP professors and researchers from the University of Zurich (UZH)
Experimental Methods
Behavioral methods (e.g., reaction time, coordination games, language acquisition)
Eye-tracking
EEG
Special Topics
Research with Amazonian and other underdescribed languages
Designing ethical and context-sensitive experiments
Week 1. Introduction to Psycho-/Neurolinguistics Methods: From the Classroom to the Lab
During the first week of the workshop, students built a solid foundation in core psycho- and neurolinguistics methods. NCCR Evolving Language internal and external experts, working closely with researchers from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), led a series of lectures, seminars, and hands-on practice sessions focused on eye-tracking and EEG.
The week began with a warm welcome to invited professors and participants, followed by an introduction to language acquisition research in the Peruvian context. This was complemented by a discussion on integrating Amazonian languages into experimental psycholinguistic research, highlighting both methodological challenges and promising research opportunities.
Students also attended lectures on the anatomy and physiology of the eye and the brain, as well as seminars covering key topics in eye-tracking research, different EEG measures, and an introduction to Python and PsychoPy. During afternoon tutorials, participants explored how these technologies capture the neurophysiological correlates of language processing and how they can be adapted for research in diverse linguistic and cultural contexts beyond highly controlled laboratory settings.
Week 2. Hands-on Fieldwork at the Chana Scientific Research Station: Applying Neurophysiological Methods in Challenging Research Settings
During the second week, students travelled all the way to the Peruvian rainforest under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Arrate Isasi-Isasmendi (UPPA-CNRS& NCCR) and Dr. Natalia Morozova (UZH & NCCR). Working in small groups, students developed their own research questions, designed experimental protocols, and tested their studies with real participants. This immersive experience allowed them to engage with the full research cycle, from conceptualization to data collection.
Key activities included:
Creating informed consent forms and participant questionnaires tailored to the field context
Designing and implementing experiments using PsychoPy
Eye-tracking calibration and data collection
EEG preparation procedures, including cap placement and signal quality checks
By working directly with neurophysiological tools in a field setting, students gained valuable insights into how different experimental methods can be adapted for diverse linguistic communities and challenging environmental conditions. The week emphasized flexibility, creativity, and ethical sensitivity, which constitute core competencies for conducting high-quality, field-based research.
What Participants Say
Participating in this workshop marked a turning point in my career as a linguist
My background was slightly different from that of my peers; I have extensive experience with Amazonian languages and a little bit of language acquisition, but had limited exposure to psycholinguistics. Gaining this new perspective, focusing on what happens in the brain and how typology can be studied via EEG and eye trackers, has been amazing; it feels as if a new world has opened up for me. Furthermore, having professors who combine deep knowledge of ergativity and typology with a psycholinguistic approach was an incredible experience.
Claudia Alvarado Soria
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
My favorite part of the trip was the strong sense of teamwork
What I learned during my stay at the Chana Scientific Research Station was entirely new and insightful, especially applying experimental methods to an indigenous language. My favorite part of the trip was the strong sense of teamwork. We constantly exchanged ideas, faced technical challenges with PsychoPy, and solved them together while organizing an interdisciplinary project. This collaborative environment made the experience both challenging and deeply rewarding. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to learn from Natalia and Arrate, I feel I learned from the best.
Maria Fernanda Naveda Cosquillo
Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos
I will definitely be able to apply the knowledge from the workshop in my near future
I really liked how well-organized the workshop was, as well as the quality of the classes. As a psychologist, I found the introductory lectures into Psycholinguistics very intriguing and insightful. I especially enjoyed the theoretical sessions on using EEG for psycholinguistic research, where we also discussed recent papers in the field, and the hands-on eye-tracking tutorials. Being able to see and interact with the equipment was very valuable. I feel that this workshop has given me the foundation I need to dive deeper into the theory and experimental methods for my upcoming internship at the MPI for Psycholinguistics.
Jose Manuel Villanueva Alvarado
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Workshop organizers and participants
Workshop on Experimental Psycholinguistic Methods for Underdescribed Languages
Sharing Methodology to work on Underdescribed Languages
Learning Theory on EEG
Leading an experiment at the CHANA Scientific Research Station
Setting up an experiment at the CHANA Scientific Research Station
Leading an experiment at the CHANA Scientific Research Station
At the CHANA Scientific Research Station
Lecturers and contributions
This event was made possible through the collaboration of PUCP, UZH, NCCR Evolving Language, and the dedicated contributions of lecturers and organizers from both institutions.
We extend our warmest thanks to all lecturers and contributors whose expertise and commitment shaped the success of this workshop:
Arrate Isasi-Isasmendi Landaluze (UPPA-CNRS & UZH) – Teoría sobre eye-tracking, Teoría sobre EEG, fieldwork supervision in Chana
Mari Fernández (PUCP) – Introducción a la psicolingüística
Natalia Morozova (UZH) – Teoría sobre métodos conductuales, Tutorial de métodos conductuales, Tutorial de eye-tracking, fieldwork supervision in Chana
Renato Paredes (PUCP) – Básicos de Python, Tutorial de EEG
Roberto Zariquiey (PUCP) – Lingüística amazoniana
Daniel Falcón (PUCP) – Tutorial de EEG
Diana Arizaga (PUCP) – Tutorial de métodos conductuales, Tutorial de eye-tracking
Alan Dulanto (PUCP) – Tutorial de EEG
We thank all participants for their enthusiasm and commitment to advancing interdisciplinary language science research on underdescribed languages.
Organized by
Dagmar Jung (UZH) and Mariana Poblete (PUCP), whose organizational leadership and coordination were central to making this workshop and its field component possible, and all the others: Renato Paredes (PUCP), Mari Fernández (PUCP), Roberto Zariquiey (PUCP), Patricia Mendoza Mori (PUCP), Arrate Isasi-Isasmendi Landaluze (UPPA-CNRS & UZH), Natalia Morozova (UZH).
Workshop on Experimental Psycholinguistic Methods for Underdescribed Languages
More information
NCCR researchers led a successful workshop on Experimental Psycholinguistic Methods for Underdescribed Languages. The workshop was held in collaboration with the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP) and the Chana Scientific Research Station, for early-career researchers from interdisciplinary backgrounds. The workshop spanned two weeks, with the first week devoted to lectures, tutorials, and lab-based practice at PUCP in Lima, and the second week dedicated to fieldwork and hands-on experimental methods in the Amazonian research context at the Chana Scientific Research Station in Pucallpa.
Workshop Overview
This English-Spanish bilingual workshop combined morning lectures with hands-on afternoon tutorials and covered key methods in psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics, including:
With PUCP professors and researchers from the University of Zurich (UZH)
Week 1. Introduction to Psycho-/Neurolinguistics Methods: From the Classroom to the Lab
During the first week of the workshop, students built a solid foundation in core psycho- and neurolinguistics methods. NCCR Evolving Language internal and external experts, working closely with researchers from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), led a series of lectures, seminars, and hands-on practice sessions focused on eye-tracking and EEG.
The week began with a warm welcome to invited professors and participants, followed by an introduction to language acquisition research in the Peruvian context. This was complemented by a discussion on integrating Amazonian languages into experimental psycholinguistic research, highlighting both methodological challenges and promising research opportunities.
Students also attended lectures on the anatomy and physiology of the eye and the brain, as well as seminars covering key topics in eye-tracking research, different EEG measures, and an introduction to Python and PsychoPy. During afternoon tutorials, participants explored how these technologies capture the neurophysiological correlates of language processing and how they can be adapted for research in diverse linguistic and cultural contexts beyond highly controlled laboratory settings.
Week 2. Hands-on Fieldwork at the Chana Scientific Research Station: Applying Neurophysiological Methods in Challenging Research Settings
During the second week, students travelled all the way to the Peruvian rainforest under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Arrate Isasi-Isasmendi (UPPA-CNRS & NCCR) and Dr. Natalia Morozova (UZH & NCCR). Working in small groups, students developed their own research questions, designed experimental protocols, and tested their studies with real participants. This immersive experience allowed them to engage with the full research cycle, from conceptualization to data collection.
Key activities included:
By working directly with neurophysiological tools in a field setting, students gained valuable insights into how different experimental methods can be adapted for diverse linguistic communities and challenging environmental conditions. The week emphasized flexibility, creativity, and ethical sensitivity, which constitute core competencies for conducting high-quality, field-based research.
What Participants Say
Participating in this workshop marked a turning point in my career as a linguist
My background was slightly different from that of my peers; I have extensive experience with Amazonian languages and a little bit of language acquisition, but had limited exposure to psycholinguistics. Gaining this new perspective, focusing on what happens in the brain and how typology can be studied via EEG and eye trackers, has been amazing; it feels as if a new world has opened up for me. Furthermore, having professors who combine deep knowledge of ergativity and typology with a psycholinguistic approach was an incredible experience.
My favorite part of the trip was the strong sense of teamwork
What I learned during my stay at the Chana Scientific Research Station was entirely new and insightful, especially applying experimental methods to an indigenous language. My favorite part of the trip was the strong sense of teamwork. We constantly exchanged ideas, faced technical challenges with PsychoPy, and solved them together while organizing an interdisciplinary project. This collaborative environment made the experience both challenging and deeply rewarding. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to learn from Natalia and Arrate, I feel I learned from the best.
I will definitely be able to apply the knowledge from the workshop in my near future
I really liked how well-organized the workshop was, as well as the quality of the classes. As a psychologist, I found the introductory lectures into Psycholinguistics very intriguing and insightful. I especially enjoyed the theoretical sessions on using EEG for psycholinguistic research, where we also discussed recent papers in the field, and the hands-on eye-tracking tutorials. Being able to see and interact with the equipment was very valuable. I feel that this workshop has given me the foundation I need to dive deeper into the theory and experimental methods for my upcoming internship at the MPI for Psycholinguistics.
Workshop organizers and participants
Lecturers and contributions
This event was made possible through the collaboration of PUCP, UZH, NCCR Evolving Language, and the dedicated contributions of lecturers and organizers from both institutions.
We extend our warmest thanks to all lecturers and contributors whose expertise and commitment shaped the success of this workshop:
We thank all participants for their enthusiasm and commitment to advancing interdisciplinary language science research on underdescribed languages.
Organized by
Dagmar Jung (UZH) and Mariana Poblete (PUCP), whose organizational leadership and coordination were central to making this workshop and its field component possible, and all the others: Renato Paredes (PUCP), Mari Fernández (PUCP), Roberto Zariquiey (PUCP), Patricia Mendoza Mori (PUCP), Arrate Isasi-Isasmendi Landaluze (UPPA-CNRS & UZH), Natalia Morozova (UZH).
Supported by