My research aims to unveil how language operates in the brain, how it can go awry, and how we can better support individuals with language impairments through innovative, evidence-based approaches in clinical, educational, and social settings.
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Language and Linguistics, Neurology (clinical), Psychiatry and Mental health, Artificial Intelligence
7
Scopus Publications
63
Scholar Citations
5
Scholar h-index
2
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
The Association Between Laterality and Stroke Severity: A Cross-Sectional Study Imen Ezzouch, Riadh Dahmen, Kaouther Mejri, Liwa Masmoudi, Saoussen Daoued, Dalia Elleuch, Sana Ben Amor, Mariem Dammak, Chokri Mhiri, Haitham Jahrami, Achraf Ammar, Khaled Trabelsi, Mohamed Jarraya Health Science Reports, 2026 Background and Aim Handedness is a manifestation of cerebral lateralization that has been implicated in various neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions. Despite extensive research, the relationship between laterality and stroke outcomes remains underexplored. This study investigates the association between laterality (handedness, footedness, and ocular preference) and stroke severity. Methods A cross‐sectional study of 98 stroke patients from Tunisian hospitals assessed laterality (handedness, footedness, ocular preference) and NIHSS severity. Laterality was evaluated using validated questionnaires for manual, foot, and ocular preferences. Statistical analyses included nonparametric tests to examine the correlation between different aspects of laterality, the relationship between laterality (handedness, footedness, and ocular preference) and both stroke risk factors and stroke severity, as well as the correlation between stroke risk factors and severity, with a particular emphasis on the indirect impact of laterality. Results The majority of participants were right‐handed (66.3%), while 10.2% were left‐handed and 38.8% demonstrated crossed laterality. No significant association was found between laterality and stroke severity ( p > 0.05). Left‐handedness was more prevalent among dyslipidemic patients, a factor significantly associated with stroke severity (OR = 5.6, p = 0.033). Conclusion The findings suggest that while laterality does not directly influence stroke severity, it may indirectly affect outcomes by modulating stroke risk factors. Therefore, laterality plays a crucial role in stroke, primarily through its impact on risk factors rather than directly determining severity.
Relationship between grammar and schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis Dalia Elleuch, Yinhan Chen, Qiang Luo, Lena Palaniyappan Communications Medicine, 2025 Background Schizophrenia significantly impairs everyday communication, affecting education and employment. Such communication difficulties may arise from deficits in syntax—understanding and generating grammatical structures. Research on syntactic impairments in schizophrenia is underpowered, with inconsistent findings, and it is unclear if deficits are specific to certain patient subgroups, regardless of symptom profiles, age, sex, or illness severity. Methods A pre-registered (Open Science Framework: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/7FZUC) search using PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases up to May 1, 2024, for all studies investigating syntax comprehension and production in schizophrenia vs. healthy controls. Excluding studies on those <18 years of age and qualitative research, we extracted Cohen’s d and log coefficient of variation ratio and used Bayesian meta-analysis across 6 domains: 2 in comprehension and 4 in production in patient-control comparisons. Study quality was evaluated using a modified Newcastle–Ottawa Scale, with moderators (age, sex, study quality, language) tested via meta-regression. Results We identify 86 relevant articles, of which 45 have sufficient data for meta-analysis (n = 2960 participants, 64.4% English, weighted mean age(sd) = 32.3(5.6)). Bayesian meta-analysis shows strong evidence of syntactic deficits in schizophrenia across all domains (d = 0.65–1.01, overall random-effects d = 0.86, 95% CrI [0.67–1.03]), with syntax comprehension being most affected, with weak publication bias. People with schizophrenia show increased variability in comprehension and production of long and complex utterances (lnCVR = 0.21, 95% CrI [0.07–0.36]), hinting at subgroups with differing performance. Conclusions Robust impairments in grammatical comprehension and production in schizophrenia suggest opportunities for targeted interventions focusing on syntax, a rule-based feature amenable to cognitive, educational, and linguistic interventions.
Speaking of yourself: A meta-analysis of 80 years of research on pronoun use in schizophrenia Dalia Elleuch, Yinhan Chen, Qiang Luo, Lena Palaniyappan Schizophrenia Research, 2025 People with schizophrenia experience significant language disturbances that profoundly affect their everyday social interactions. Given its relevance to the referential function of language, aberrations in pronoun use are of particular interest in the study of schizophrenia. This systematic review and meta-analysis, adhering to PRISMA guidelines, examines the frequency of pronoun use in schizophrenia. PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science were searched up to May 1, 2024. All studies analyzing pronoun frequency in various spoken language contexts in schizophrenia were included. Bias was assessed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A Bayesian meta-analysis with model averaging estimated effect sizes and moderating factors. 13 studies with n = 917 unique participants and 13 case-control contrasts were included. 37.9 % of patient samples were women, with a weighted mean (SD) age of 34.45 (9.72) years. 53.85 % of the studies were in languages other than English. We report a medium-sized effect for first-person pronoun impairment in schizophrenia (model-averaged d = 0.89, 95 % CrI (0.44, 1.33)). There was significant heterogeneity moderated by age. Evidence for publication bias was weak, with a strong support for first-person pronoun impairment after accounting for bias and heterogeneity. There was a small reduction of inter-individual variability in first-person pronoun use in patients compared to healthy controls (lnCVR = -0.12, 95 % CrI [-0.35, -0.13]). While all pronoun use was also high in patients, this was not robust due to heterogeneity and publication bias. Individuals with schizophrenia excessively use first-person pronouns. This may be a marker of a disturbed sense of self in this illness.
Deciphering the impact of childhood trauma on schizophrenia: A qualitative case study of dialogical aspects. Dalia Elleuch, Lena Palaniyappan Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy, 2025 OBJECTIVE: Grounded in a phenomenology framework, this qualitative case study interrogates the structural embedding of childhood trauma within the linguistic and phenomenological aspects of schizophrenia. It posits that traumatic experiences are not merely reflected in but actively reorganize communicative patterns, becoming grammatically and narratively encoded in psychotic discourse. METHOD: A multilevel discourse analysis was applied to verbatim transcripts from two historical, publicly available recordings of a clinically diagnosed male patient: a structured clinical interview and an unstructured home visit. Employing a triangulation design, the analysis integrated patient narrative, clinician assessments, and familial observations. Coding was conducted through an iterative, deductive-inductive process focused on linguistic strata: syntactic structure, lexical semantics, narrative coherence, and dialogical dynamics. RESULTS: The analysis delineated a distinct psycholinguistic configuration indicative of trauma reorganization. Dominant themes include the following: (a) syntactic reenactment-rigid, persecutory interrogatives fossilizing victim-perpetrator frameworks; (b) lexical hypervigilance-a semantically constrained lexicon centered on violation and somatic threat; (c) narrative dissociation-abrupt thematic shifts and displaced trauma disclosures that disrupt autobiographical coherence; and (d) dialogical rupture-interlocutor-specific speech patterns reenacting attachment conflicts. These markers form a coherent, trauma-organized communicative system persistent across contexts. CONCLUSIONS: Trauma in schizophrenia may operate as a structural determinant of communication, not a comorbid overlay. Personalized, linguistically informed, trauma-focused interventions may reduce the accompanying interpersonal distress. We provide an outline for studying discursive markers to investigate therapies targeting trauma-derived syntactic and narrative frameworks. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
The transformative role of Positive Psychology in fostering inclusive language education for SEN students Dalia Elleuch System, 2024 The pursuit of optimizing language teaching/learning has driven educators and researchers to explore innovative approaches that create enriching and appealing environments conducive to learning. However, there remains a gap in addressing language teaching for Special Educational Needs (SEN) students. Building on the Positive Psychology (PP) foundations embedded in EMPATHICS, this review article calls for a PP-geared paradigm shift in language education for SEN students. It explores the impact of PP on language teaching, with a special focus on SEN students. Since the integration of PP principles (equally referred to as PP constructs in the literature) holds the promise of cultivating enriching and effective learning environments, this review aims to design and implement a set of practical strategies for SEN educators to create inclusive and motivating language learning environments. By addressing the unique learning needs of these students based on a theory-informed needs analysis, the current work aspires to shed further light on how positive language learning mindsets and beliefs can enhance the learning experience. Thanks to its innovative principles, PP can profoundly influence SEN learners’ positive emotions, motivation, well-being, and overall learning outcomes, inviting thus both educators and researchers to adopt it as an integrative approach to language teaching.
Applying the MSMLP model in advancing language teaching and learning: a longitudinal case study on soft skills development Dalia Elleuch Frontiers in Education, 2024 Language is a dynamic phenomenon that transcends mere verbal expression. In the educational setting, and particularly language teaching and learning, understanding the processes that underlie communication is crucial for effective pedagogy. The Multi-Stratal Model of Language Processing (MSMLP) emerges as a neurolinguistic framework that not only dissects the complexities of language processing but also offers a multifaceted perspective through which language education can be advanced, moving beyond traditional linguistic boundaries by integrating social, cultural, emotional, gestural, and linguistic components. The study unfolds by examining the foundational linguistic strata, emphasizing the integration of pragmatics, morphosyntax, semantics, and phonology into a more holistic language curriculum. Social dimensions, encompassing sociolinguistic variables, social context, and conversation analysis, are explored, guiding educators to incorporate these elements into their teaching methodologies. The longitudinal case study focuses on soft skills development among first-year English students at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities in Sfax, emphasizing real-world scenarios and comprehensive assessments. The iterative approach assesses the curriculum’s impact on students’ soft skills, highlighting MSMLP’s applicability in language teaching and curriculum design. The study advocates for embracing the MSMLP, fostering a holistic language teaching approach to prepare students for effective communication in diverse real-world contexts, and unraveling the profound connection between language and the expression of thoughts and feelings beyond explicit verbalization.
The Association Between Laterality and Stroke Severity: A Cross‐Sectional Study I Ezzouch, R Dahmen, K Mejri, L Masmoudi, S Daoued, D Elleuch, ... Health Science Reports 9 (3), e72102 , 2026 2026.0
Relationship between grammar and schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis D Elleuch, Y Chen, Q Luo, L Palaniyappan Communications Medicine 5 (1), 235 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 15
Speaking of yourself: A meta-analysis of 80 years of research on pronoun use in schizophrenia D Elleuch, Y Chen, Q Luo, L Palaniyappan Schizophrenia research 279, 22-30 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 13
The Healing Power of Music: A Comprehensive Review of Music Therapy D Elleuch Preprints , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 2
A Neurolinguistic Protocol for Post-Stroke Aphasia Diagnosis and Rehabilitation D Elleuch OSF , 2025 2025.0
The Pragmatics of Heart and Mind: Affective Communication from Philosophical Roots to Digital Frontiers D Elleuch, M Triki Maximizing the Relevance of Felicitous Communication, 1-28 , 2025 2025.0
Deciphering the Impact of Childhood Trauma on Schizophrenia: A Qualitative Case Study of Dialogical Aspects D Elleuch, L Palaniyappan Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy , 2025 2025.0
The transformative role of Positive Psychology in fostering inclusive language education for SEN students D Elleuch System Elsevier , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 7
Syntax and Schizophrenia: A meta-analysis of comprehension and production D Elleuch, Y Chen, Q Luo, L Palaniyappan medRxiv, 2024.10. 26.24316171 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 6
Exploring the neurolinguistic benefits of fasting D Elleuch Clinical Nutrition ESPEN , 2024 2024.0
Narcissistic Personality Disorder through Psycholinguistic Analysis and Neuroscientific Correlates D Elleuch Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 18 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 6
Grammar and psychosis: a systematic review of language production and comprehension studies D Elleuch, L Palaniyappan 2024.0 Citations: 3
Applying the MSMLP Model in Advancing Language Teaching and Learning: A Longitudinal Case Study on Soft Skills Development D Elleuch Frontiers in Education 9 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 5
Exploring Pragmatic Deficits in Broca's Aphasia Through Relevance Theory D Elleuch New Advances in Brain & Critical Care (NABCC) , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 3
A Multi-Stratal Neurolinguistic Study of Language Impairment in a Sample of American Patients with Broca’s Aphasia D Elleuch 2024.0
The Multi-Stratal Model of Language Processing (MSMLP) D Elleuch 2024.0
Anxiety and Self-Esteem in Early Childhood M Triki, D Elleuch Proceedings of Flows, 179-206 , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 3
A Pragmatic Study of the Cooperative Principle and Grice's Maxims in Shizophrenia D Elleuch 2020.0
Social Functioning and Formal Thought Disorder in Schizophrenia: A Bayesian Meta-Analysis CBC Soldovieri, D Elleuch, J Ahrens, V Bambini, O Delgram-Nejad17, ...
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Relationship between grammar and schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis D Elleuch, Y Chen, Q Luo, L Palaniyappan Communications Medicine 5 (1), 235 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 15
Speaking of yourself: A meta-analysis of 80 years of research on pronoun use in schizophrenia D Elleuch, Y Chen, Q Luo, L Palaniyappan Schizophrenia research 279, 22-30 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 13
The transformative role of Positive Psychology in fostering inclusive language education for SEN students D Elleuch System Elsevier , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 7
Syntax and Schizophrenia: A meta-analysis of comprehension and production D Elleuch, Y Chen, Q Luo, L Palaniyappan medRxiv, 2024.10. 26.24316171 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 6
Narcissistic Personality Disorder through Psycholinguistic Analysis and Neuroscientific Correlates D Elleuch Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 18 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 6
Applying the MSMLP Model in Advancing Language Teaching and Learning: A Longitudinal Case Study on Soft Skills Development D Elleuch Frontiers in Education 9 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 5
Grammar and psychosis: a systematic review of language production and comprehension studies D Elleuch, L Palaniyappan 2024.0 Citations: 3
Exploring Pragmatic Deficits in Broca's Aphasia Through Relevance Theory D Elleuch New Advances in Brain & Critical Care (NABCC) , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 3
Anxiety and Self-Esteem in Early Childhood M Triki, D Elleuch Proceedings of Flows, 179-206 , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 3
The Healing Power of Music: A Comprehensive Review of Music Therapy D Elleuch Preprints , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 2
The Association Between Laterality and Stroke Severity: A Cross‐Sectional Study I Ezzouch, R Dahmen, K Mejri, L Masmoudi, S Daoued, D Elleuch, ... Health Science Reports 9 (3), e72102 , 2026 2026.0
A Neurolinguistic Protocol for Post-Stroke Aphasia Diagnosis and Rehabilitation D Elleuch OSF , 2025 2025.0
The Pragmatics of Heart and Mind: Affective Communication from Philosophical Roots to Digital Frontiers D Elleuch, M Triki Maximizing the Relevance of Felicitous Communication, 1-28 , 2025 2025.0
Deciphering the Impact of Childhood Trauma on Schizophrenia: A Qualitative Case Study of Dialogical Aspects D Elleuch, L Palaniyappan Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy , 2025 2025.0
Exploring the neurolinguistic benefits of fasting D Elleuch Clinical Nutrition ESPEN , 2024 2024.0
A Multi-Stratal Neurolinguistic Study of Language Impairment in a Sample of American Patients with Broca’s Aphasia D Elleuch 2024.0
The Multi-Stratal Model of Language Processing (MSMLP) D Elleuch 2024.0
A Pragmatic Study of the Cooperative Principle and Grice's Maxims in Shizophrenia D Elleuch 2020.0
Social Functioning and Formal Thought Disorder in Schizophrenia: A Bayesian Meta-Analysis CBC Soldovieri, D Elleuch, J Ahrens, V Bambini, O Delgram-Nejad17, ...
