Ursula Bellugi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ursula Bellugi
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| Born | February 21, 1931 |
| Died | April 17, 2022 (aged 91) La Jolla, California, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Harvard University Antioch College |
| Known for | Research on the neurological bases of American Sign Language and language representation in people with Williams Syndrome |
| Spouse(s) | Piero Bellugi Edward Klima |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | National Academy of Sciences (2007) Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science(2007) Prize in Neuronal Plasticity from IPSEN Foundation Two MERIT awards from NICHD Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award, American Psychological Association Jacob Javitz Neuroscience Investigator Award from NIDCD Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award, American Psychological Association Woman of the Decade Award Member, Advisory Council to NIDCD |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Cognitive neuroscience Psycholinguistics |
| Institutions | Salk Institute University of California, San Diego San Diego State University |
Ursula Bellugi (February 21, 1931 – April 17, 2022) was an important American scientist. She studied the brain and how we use language. She was a respected professor and led a special lab at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ursula Bellugi was born in Jena, Germany. She moved to the United States and went to college at Antioch College. In 1967, she earned her doctorate degree from Harvard University. This was a big step in her journey to become a leading scientist.
A Career in Brain Science
After her studies, Bellugi became a professor. She worked at the Salk Institute starting in 1970. She also taught at the University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University. Her work focused on understanding how our brains handle language.
Discoveries About Language and the Brain
Ursula Bellugi was especially known for her research on American Sign Language. She studied how deaf people use sign language and how their brains process it. Her work showed that the left side of the human brain is key for language, whether it's spoken or signed. This was a major discovery about how flexible and amazing our brains are.
She also studied people with Williams Syndrome. This is a unique genetic condition. People with Williams Syndrome often have great language skills, good facial recognition, and are very social. However, they might struggle with other thinking abilities. Bellugi's research helped us understand how brain structure connects to different skills.
Awards and Recognition
Bellugi received many honors for her important work. In 1992, she got the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award. This award came from the American Psychological Association. She was also chosen as a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2008. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United States.
Personal Life
Ursula Bellugi was the daughter of a mathematician named Maximilian Herzberger. She was married to Italian conductor Piero Bellugi. Later, she married Edward Klima, who was also a linguist. They worked together on much of her research about American Sign Language. Ursula Bellugi passed away in La Jolla, California, on April 17, 2022.
