Associate Professor Mark Antoniou

Biography

Associate Professor Mark Antoniou's research encompasses cognitive, neuroscientific, and developmental aspects of language learning and use, including bilingualism.

Funded by research grants from the Australian Research Council, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, and Health and Medical Research Fund of Hong Kong, Antoniou is exploring the potential benefits of foreign language training in older adults to promote healthy brain function, counteract age-related cognitive decline, and halt the progression of neurodegenerative disease (e.g., dementia).

Antoniou is interested in the predicting outcomes associated with language use. His Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research Award explored the combination of factors that predict successful language learning, and can be used to tailor training proactively to maximise learning outcomes. He collaborates with the NSW Government Centre for Work, Health and Safety to predict future mental health status in users of e-mental health services in remote and rural farming communities.

Mark’s work on the effects of language learning is frequently featured in media, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Conversation, Lifehacker, Quartz, Scimex, SBS News, Essential Baby, ABC Australia Plus, ABC Radio Australia, Early Childhood Australia, Early Learning Review, SBS World News, SBS Greek Radio, Kinderling Radio, Radio 2SER, BYU Radio, LiveItChina.com, South China Morning Post Young Post, and Bottom Line Personal.

Antoniou is an affiliate member of the ARC Centre of Excellence in the Dynamics of Language.

Research Interests

• Effects of language learning on the brain
• Role of cognitive systems in language learning
• Individual differences in language learning success
• Language interaction in bilinguals
• Customising language training to improve learning outcomes

Qualifications and Honours

• 2019 - Australian Research Council, Discovery Project, Do cognitive effects of language learning depend upon language typology? (AU$421,000), Chief Investigator
• 2019 - NSW Government tender, Delivery of e-mental health services to remote and rural farming communities (AU$281,895), Project Leader
• 2018 -  Health and Medical Research Fund, Hong Kong, Improving cognitive functions in mild cognitive impairment via mobile-app foreign language learning (HK$1.06 million), Co-Investigator
• 2016 -  Western Sydney University Research Impact Competition ($2,000), Runner-up
• 2015 -  Western Sydney University Researcher Development Strategic Initiative Funding, Early Career Researcher Award, Pinpointing the contribution of cognitive resources to spoken language processing (AU$20,000), Chief Investigator
• 2015 - Australian Research Council (ARC), Discovery Early Career Researcher Award, Cracking the code of successful language learning (AU$365,000), Chief Investigator
• 2013 - Health and Medical Research Fund, Hong Kong, Foreign language learning as potential treatment for Mild Cognitive Impairment (HK$950,000), Co-Investigator
• 2013 - Research Grants Council, Hong Kong, Language learning in older adults as preventive therapy for cognitive impairments (HK$1.04 million), Co-Investigator
• 2010 - Ph.D. (Psychology), MARCS Institute, Western Sydney University
• 2005 - B.A. (Psychology), Honours Program, Western Sydney University

Publications

For a full listing of my publications, please see my Google Scholar profile (opens in a new window) page.

Contact Mark