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, et al. 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.
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, ...
