Dr. M. (Michal) Korenar
Assistant Professor in Linguistics with a Focus on Language Learning in Diverse Populations
Faculty of Humanities
Capaciteitsgroep Nederlandse Taalkunde
Visiting address
- Spuistraat 134
- Room number: 420
Postal address
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Postbus 1637
1000 BP Amsterdam
Contact details
Social media
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Profile
I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Dutch Studies, where I coordinate the MA program in Dutch as a Second Language and Multilingualism. Additionally, I hold a position at Amsterdam UMC, within Liesbeth Reneman's Lab and the Alzheimer Centre Amsterdam.
I earned my PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Reading with a doctoral thesis on structural brain changes induced by bilingual experiences, funded by Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie ITN. I was a member of the Bilingualism in the Brain Lab, where I also secured my first posdoctoral position.
Subsequently, I received Fulbright Fellowship and worked as postdoc at Pennsylvania State University in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Creativity Lab. There, my research focused on the influence of bilingualism on the dynamics of brain networks related to creativity.
With my combined expertise in neuroscience and linguistics, I am deeply fascinated by the brain's adaptability in acquiring and utilizing multiple languages, and I am passionate about exploring how this understanding can be applied for societal good. One of my recent pursuits, in collaboration with colleagues from Amsterdam UMC, involves investigating whether bilingualism can rewire our brains to postpone the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, a project for which I received the Amsterdam UMC Career Bridging Grant.
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Publications
- refereed (12)
- academic (3)
- professional (1)
- popular scientific (1)
- conference contributions (2)
- recognitions (19)
2025
- van Noort, A. M. T., Korenar, M., & Bloem, J. (in press). Mapping semantic networks to Dutch word embeddings as a diagnostic tool for cognitive decline. In Proceedings of the 2025 Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing Association for Computational Linguistics.
2024
Yee, J., Kořenář , M., Sheehan, A., & Pliatsikas, C. (2024). Subcortical malleability as a result of cognitively challenging experiences: the case of bi-/multilingualism. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 59, Article 101438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2024.101438 [details]- Yee, J., Yap, N. T., Korenar, M., Saddy, J. D., & Pliatsikas, C. (2024). Subcortical restructuring as a function of multilingualism: Insights from monolinguals, bilinguals, trilinguals and quadrilinguals. Bilingualism : Language and Cognition, 27(4), 715-728. https://doi.org/10.1017/S136672892300086X [details]
2023
- Korenar, M., & Pliatsikas, C. (2023). Second Language Acquisition and Neuroplasticity: Insights from the Dynamic Restructuring Model. In K. Morgan-Short, & J. G. van Hell (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Second Language Acquisition and Neurolinguistics (pp. 191-203). (Routledge Handbooks in Second Language Acquisition). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003190912-18 [details]
- Korenar, M., Treffers-Daller, J., & Pliatsikas, C. (2023). Brain structure adapts dynamically to highly demanding bilingual experiences: Insights from interpreters and translators. Ampersand: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Language Sciences and Bilingualism , 11, Article 100148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amper.2023.100148 [details]
- Korenar, M., Treffers-Daller, J., & Pliatsikas, C. (2023). Dynamic effects of bilingualism on brain structure map onto general principles of experience-based neuroplasticity. Scientific Reports, 13, Article 3428. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30326-3 [details]
- Korenar, M., Treffers-Daller, J., & Pliatsikas, C. (2023). Two languages in one mind: Insights into cognitive effects of bilingualism from usage-based approaches. Naše řeč, 106(1), 24-46. https://doi.org/10.58756/n11062303 [details]
2020
- Treffers-Daller, J., Ongun, Z., Hofweber, J., & Korenar, M. (2020). Explaining Individual Differences in Executive Functions Performance in Multilinguals: The Impact of Code-Switching and Alternating Between Multicultural Identity Styles. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 561088. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.561088
2019
- Korenar, M. (2019). Prins of boswachter? Interpretatie van subjectanaforen in het Nederlands als tweede taal. Acta Universitatis Carolinae. Philologica, 2018(4), 113-129. https://doi.org/10.14712/24646830.2018.59
2018
- Korenar, M. (2018). Cherchez la femme! Cherchez Laura A. Janda! Russian Language Journal, 68(2018). https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/rlj/vol68/iss1/7
2016
- Korenar, M. (2016). Sensorimotor Behaviour Reflects Lexical and Grammatical Aspect in Czech: An Eye Tracking Study. Poljarnyj vestnik, 19(2016).
2015
- Korenar, M. (2015). Landau-Kleffner syndrome and swearing. Activitas Nervosa Superior, 57(3-4), 122-126. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03379944
2022
- Korenar, M., Treffers-Daller, J., & Pliatsikas, C. (2022). Structural neural correlates of habitual code-switching practices in bilinguals. PsyArXiv. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/2zebp
- Korenar, M., Treffers-Daller, J., & Pliatsikas, C. (2022). Two languages in one mind: insights into cognitive effects of bilingualism from usage-based approaches. PsyArXiv. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/v2x5n
2021
- Korenar, M., Treffers-Daller, J., & Pliatsikas, C. (2021). Bilingual experiences induce dynamic structural changes to basal ganglia and the thalamus. Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1017465/v1
2024
- Korenar, M., Treffers-Daller, J., & Pliatsikas, C. (2024). ‘Verbal salad’ is good for you: demystifying mixing of two languages. In J. Franck, F. Faloppa, & T. Marinis (Eds.), Myths and facts about multilingualism (pp. 21-31). (Bilingualism Matters series). CALEC.
2024
- in 't Veld, D., & Korenar, M. (2024). Taal als een kompas voor het welzijn van ons brein. In De Wereld in Taal: Een reis in 40 verhalen Uitgeverij Lias.
2025
- Siekman, B., Korenar, M., Spit, S. B., Verhagen, J., & Andringa, S. J. (2025). The Name Game. Measuring metalinguistic awareness in LESLLA learners.. Poster session presented at The 34th Conference of the European Second Language Association, Tromsø, Norway.
2022
- Korenar, M. (2022). Bilingualism as a dynamic, brain-changing experience: a sMRI study. Poster session presented at Amsterdam Brain and Cognition (ABC) day, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Prize / grant
- Korenar, M. (2023). The role of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Code-Switching – A Combined TMS-fMRI Study.
- Karkalousos, D., Caan, M. W. A., Korenar, M. & Reneman, L. (2023). Learned quantitative MRI for understanding protective effects of billingualism in Alzheimer’s Disease (LAMBADA).
- Korenar, M. (2022). Bilingualism as a protective factor against Alzheimer’s disease: modulating grey matter networks in the healthy and diseased brain.
- Korenar, M. (2022). Best Poster Award.
Membership / relevant position
- Korenar, M. (2022-2024). I am affiliated (null aanstelling) with the Amsterdam UMC (locations AMC, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, and VUmc, Alzheimercentrum (…), Amsterdam UMC.
Media appearance
- Korenar, M. (23-03-2023). Proč jsme vlastně každý jiný a kdy se lidé chovají jako fyzikální částice? [Web] Aktualne.cz. Proč jsme vlastně každý jiný a kdy se lidé chovají jako fyzikální částice?. https://blog.aktualne.cz/blogy/pavla-hubalkova.php?itemid=44732
- Korenar, M. (28-02-2023). The Effect of Bilingualism on Subcortical Brain Structures [Web] BrainPost.co. The Effect of Bilingualism on Subcortical Brain Structures. https://www.brainpost.co/weekly-brainpost/2023/3/7/the-effect-of-bilingualism-on-subcortical-brain-structures
- Korenar, M. (01-10-2022). Learning Languages to Train our Mind and Brain [Web]. Talk titled "Learning languages to train our mind and brain" presented at the European Day of Languages 2022. https://libraryoflanguages.ff.cuni.cz/prednasky/
Journal editor
- Korenar, M. (editor) (2024-). Scientific Reports (Journal).
Talk / presentation
- Korenar, M. (speaker), Treffers-Daller, J. (speaker) & Pliatsikas, C. (speaker) (2024). Neural correlates of habitual code-switching practices in Czech-English bilinguals, International Association of Applied Linguistics Conference 2024, Kuala Lumpur.
- Korenar, M. (speaker) (1-11-2023). Bilingualism: A Journey of Brain Transformation, University of Konstanz.
- Korenar, M. (speaker) (29-9-2023). MRI as a powerful tool for language sciences, Universiteit Leiden, Leiden.
- Korenar, M. (speaker) (5-6-2023). Bilingualism as a brain-changing experience - learning languages for healthy brain?, University of Groningen.
- Korenar, M. (speaker) (7-3-2023). Bilingualism: A Tale of Brain-changing Experiences, Centre for Language Studies, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands. https://www.ru.nl/cls/news-events/vm/research-groups/events-from-groups/2023/bilingualism-tale-brain-changing-experiences/
- Korenar, M. (speaker) (7-2-2023). Bilingualism as a dynamic, brain-changing experience, Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism, University of Reading.
- Korenar, M. (speaker) (27-11-2022). Bilingualism: A Tale of Brain-changing Experiences, University of Florida. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjnYsAvq1lg&ab_channel=UFLanguageandBrain
- Korenar, M. (speaker) (3-10-2022). Do code-switching practices change the structure of bilinguals’ brain?, UiT Arctic University of Norway.
Others
- Korenar, M. (participant), Treffers-Daller, J. (participant) & Pliatsikas, C. (participant) (2024). International Association of Applied Linguistics Conference 2024, Kuala Lumpur. Oral presentation titled: Neural correlates of habitual code-switching practices in Czech-English bilinguals (participating in a conference, workshop, ...).
- Korenar, M. (participant), Treffers-Daller, J. (participant) & Pliatsikas, C. (participant) (29-9-2022 - 1-10-2022). Linguistics Prague 2022, Prague. Oral presentation titled: "Structural brain changes brought about by switching practices in Czech-English bilinguals". Authors: Michal Korenar, (…) (participating in a conference, workshop, ...).
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Ancillary activities
No ancillary activities
Yee, J., Kořenář , M., Sheehan, A., & Pliatsikas, C. (2024). Subcortical malleability as a result of cognitively challenging experiences: the case of bi-/multilingualism. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 59, Article 101438.