Professor
Phone: (713) 743-2894
Email: mtblake@uh.edu
Office:  Melcher Life Sciences M245B
Curriculum Vitae

Education

• Ph.D., Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
• M.S., Speech and Hearing Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
• B.S., Communication Disorders, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

Teaching

• Research and Critical Thinking (COMD 6261)
• Neuroscience for Communication Disorders (COMD 4333)

Research Interests

The right side of the brain plays an important role in communication, primarily in expressing and understanding intended meaning within a given context. Apragmatism is a disorder of context-dependent communication associated with damage to the right side of the brain (RHD). Dr. Blake’s research focuses on (a) operationally defining RHD disorders including characteristics of specific impairments and patterns of co-occurrence and (b) examining the incidence and effects of Theory of Mind (the ability to understand that other people have knowledge, thoughts, beliefs, feelings and emotions that are different from your own) in acute through chronic stroke.

For more information, view Dr. Blake’s research page.

Research Grants

(past 5 years)

• 2022-2027 National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Deafness and Communication Disorders (NIH/NIDCD) R01DC019828. Recovery of Language and Theory of Mind after Stroke, Role: co-PI with Tatiana Schnur (Baylor College of Medicine)

Selected Publications

(For a full list of publications, see CV)

• Blake, M. L., Ferré, P., Murray, L., Hewetson, R., Johnson, M., Durfee, A. Z., Minga, J., Sheppard, S. M., & Love, A. (2026, in press). Understanding right hemisphere language disorders through a half-century of research: A systematic review. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1044/2026_AJSLP-25-00294
• Suazo, A., Blake, M. L., & Schnur, T. (2026). Theory of mind predicts conversational success in early right hemisphere stroke recovery. bioRxiv, 2026.04.23.720418. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.04.23.720418 
• Minga, J., Sheppard, S., Johnson, M., Hewetson, R., Cornwell, P., & Blake, M. L. (2023) Apragmatism: The renewal of a label for communication disorders associated with right hemisphere brain damage. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 58, 651-666. DOI 10.1111/1460-6984.12807
• El Husseini, N., Katzan, I. L., Rost, N. S., Blake, M. L., Byun, E., Pendlebury, S. T., ... & American Heart Association Stroke Council; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention; Council on Hypertension; and Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health. (2023). Cognitive impairment after ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke, 54. DOI: 10.1161/STR.0000000000000430.
• Stockbridge, M. A., Sheppard, S. M., Keator, L. M., Murray, L. L., & Blake, M. L. (2021). Aprosodia subsequent to right hemisphere brain damage: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 1-27. doi:10.1017/S1355617721000825

Honors

• Fellow, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• University of Houston Teaching Excellence Award (2015-16)
  
  

Professional Activities

• International Cognitive-Communication Disorders Conference Co-Chair (2025-2026)
• Blake, M.L. & Hoepner, J.K. (2027). Clinical Neuroscience for Communication Disorders: Neuroanatomy & Neurophysiology (2nd Edition) Plural Publishing. ISBN13: 978-1-63550-781-2
• Hoepner, J.K. & Blake, M.L. (2025). Acquired Neurogenic Communication Disorders: An Integrated Clinical Approach. Plural Publishing. ISBN13: 978-1-63550-425-5
• Co-creator of www.RightHemisphere.org