The Indian Institute of Technology Madras has launched the country’s first dedicated ‘Language and Cognition Laboratory’ (LC-Lab), an interdisciplinary research facility aimed at studying India’s linguistic diversity through experimental linguistics and advanced technology.
The lab, set up under the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, was inaugurated on 10 November by IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti, along with HSS Department Head Prof. Rajesh Kumar and Faculty Coordinator Dr. Anindita Sahoo.
Designed to examine how humans perceive, process, and produce language, the LC-Lab will use tools such as eye-tracking and reaction-time experiments.
Its long-term mission is to contribute to the creation of human-centred, linguistically informed AI systems, ensuring better representation of India’s languages in emerging technologies. The lab will collaborate closely with the Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) at IIT Madras.
Prof. Kamakoti said linguistics is shifting toward data-driven and empirical approaches, highlighting the need for a facility that integrates linguistic theory with experimental and computational methods. “The Language and Cognition Lab was established to fill this gap by connecting linguistics, cognitive science, neuroscience and AI, and contributing to socially relevant technologies,” he said.
Current projects at the LC-Lab explore grammatical voice and copula constructions in Indian languages, while upcoming research will study dyslexia in Indian children to support the development of better educational interventions.
Dr. Anindita Sahoo noted that the lab aims to deepen interdisciplinary research by using technologies that track behavioural patterns and generate data-driven insights into human interaction.
In the near term, the LC-Lab will use eye-tracking to test linguistic theories in Indian languages. Future plans include incorporating advanced neurocognitive tools such as EEG and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to expand research into cognition and computational modelling.
The facility has been supported by IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation and Aspire Infolab, Hyderabad.
The inauguration was preceded by a symposium titled ‘Language for Thought: Exploring Interdisciplinary Dimensions,’ featuring experts from IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, the IPS, and Università degli Studi Milano-Bicocca, Italy.
The panel explored how language shapes thought across psychology, philosophy, public policy and technology.
Also Read: How a space-based study shows new flood risks from Ranganadi, Doyang, and Kurichhu dams