Christopher Benjamin, PhD
Associate Professor AdjunctCards
Appointments
Additional Titles
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Assistant Professor, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Assistant Professor, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Assistant Professor, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
Contact Info
About
Titles
Associate Professor Adjunct
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery; Assistant Professor of Psychology; Assistant Professor, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
Biography
Dr. Benjamin is a clinical neuropsychologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology. He completed his PhD training in neuropsychology at the University of Melbourne, Australia; research fellowship training at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston; and his clinical fellowship at the Semel Institute, University of California Los Angeles where he was the epilepsy fellow and Chief Fellow in neuropsychology. As a clinician he is a member of Yale's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and he also sees adults with a range of neurological disorders. As a researcher his work focuses on how we can improve surgical planning to treat epilepsy and brain tumors.
Appointments
Neurology
Associate Professor AdjunctPrimaryDepartment of Psychology
Associate Professor on TermSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Clinical Fellow, Neuropsychology
- Semel Institute, UCLA (2014)
- MA
- University of Melbourne, Clinical Neuropsychology (2012)
- PhD
- University of Melbourne (2012)
- Research Fellow
- Harvard Medical School (2012)
- Research Fellow
- Boston Children's Hospital (2012)
- Research Fellow
- Harvard Medical School (2011)
- Research Fellow
- Boston Children's Hospital (2011)
- BA
- University of Melbourne, Biological Psychology (2002)
Research
Overview
• Validity of cognitive testing for identifying seizure focus, and surgical outcome.
• Validity of fMRI methods for predicting language change after surgery.
• Comparison of fMRI and intracranial language mapping for predicting language change after surgery.
Medical Research Interests
ORCID
0000-0002-2000-9016- View Lab Website
Benjamin Lab
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Lawrence Hirsch, MD
Imran Quraishi, MD, PhD
Richard Bronen, MD
Adithya Sivaraju, MD, MHA
Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh, MD, PhD, BMath
Dennis Spencer, MD
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Language
Epilepsy
Memory
Publications
2025
Dynamic neuroplasticity of language networks: The intersection of bilingualism and epilepsy
Stasenko A, Kaestner E, Schadler A, Reyes A, Urbanic C, Helm J, Saldana D, Carollo-Duprey G, Połczyńska M, Benjamin C, Sepeta L, Gollan T, Cavanagh L, McDonald C. Dynamic neuroplasticity of language networks: The intersection of bilingualism and epilepsy. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2025, 122: e2422742122. PMID: 40658859, PMCID: PMC12304909, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2422742122.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsHemispheric epilepsyLeft hemisphere epilepsyRight hemisphere epilepsyLanguage network organizationSeizure onset lateralityBilingual brainMonolingual adultsMonolingual patientsEarly bilingualsBilingual patientsLanguage networkLanguage lateralizationNeurological insultBilateral lateralizationLanguage experienceAcquire languageL2 representationsFunctional MRITemporal lobe epilepsyLeft-lateralL2 networkL2 acquisitionCompensatory processesNeural adaptationMonolingual systemsSelf-Inflicted Head Injury in Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia with Compulsive Behaviors: A Case Report
Yang Y, Matuskey D, Benjamin C, Fesharaki-Zadeh A. Self-Inflicted Head Injury in Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia with Compulsive Behaviors: A Case Report. Cognitive And Behavioral Neurology 2025, 38: 66-72. PMID: 40298273, DOI: 10.1097/wnn.0000000000000392.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsBehavioral variant frontotemporal dementiaDiagnosis of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementiaFrontotemporal dementiaEpisodic memory lossLoss of empathyCompulsive behaviorsExecutive functionProgressive behavioral deficitsPsychiatric diagnosisPsychiatric disordersBehavioral deficitsRight hippocampusRight hemisphereBehavioral agitationPersonality changesNeuroimaging findingsInstrumental activities of daily livingMemory lossRight lateral ventricleSevere hypometabolismLateral ventricleParenchymal volume lossClinician's abilityInstrumental activitiesVolume lossNeural (re)organisation of language and memory: implications for neuroplasticity and cognition
Stasenko A, Kaestner E, Rodriguez J, Benjamin C, Winstanley F, Sepeta L, Horsfall J, Bookheimer S, Shih J, Norman M, Gooding A, McDonald C. Neural (re)organisation of language and memory: implications for neuroplasticity and cognition. Journal Of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry 2025, 96: 489-499. PMID: 39890459, PMCID: PMC12022876, DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2024-333871.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMemory outcomesVerbal memoryLanguage dominanceMemory functionLeft hemisphere epilepsyLanguage-dominant hemispherePostoperative memory outcomeMapping of languageMechanisms of neuroplasticityPostsurgical memory functionLanguage networkInterhemispheric shiftWada procedureCognitive modalitiesHemispheric epilepsySeizure lateralizationPresurgical mappingMemory typesMemoryNeuroplasticityMesial temporal sclerosisNeurological insultLanguageMemory networkSeizure onset
2024
Mapping Cognition in Epilepsy: From the Lab to the Clinic.
Bearden D, Stasenko A, Prentice F, Benjamin C, Hamberger M, Reppert L, Jones J, Sepeta L. Mapping Cognition in Epilepsy: From the Lab to the Clinic. Epilepsy Currents 2024, 15357597241280485. PMID: 39582595, PMCID: PMC11580000, DOI: 10.1177/15357597241280485.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricAutomatic responsiveness testing in epilepsy with wearable technology: The ARTiE Watch
Wheeler L, Kremen V, Mersereau C, Ornelas G, Yadav T, Cormier D, Derry A, Lopez A, McQuown K, Sladky V, Benjamin C, Giacino J, Worrell G, Blumenfeld H, Team S. Automatic responsiveness testing in epilepsy with wearable technology: The ARTiE Watch. Epilepsia 2024, 66: 104-116. PMID: 39559901, PMCID: PMC11817799, DOI: 10.1111/epi.18181.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsCloud infrastructureElectrographic seizuresSmartphone softwareMobile platformWearable technologySmartwatchTest sequencesMonitor unit settingsVideo-electroencephalographic monitoringLong-term video-electroencephalographic monitoringEpilepsy monitoring unitMayo ClinicDiagnostic evaluationDecreased responseUnit settingSeizuresBehavioral responsesPlatformAssessment of behavioral responsesMonitor unitsEpilepsyResponse phenotypesWatchResponse testEvaluation of behavioral responses
2022
Standardization of presurgical language fMRI in Greek population: Mapping of six critical regions
Gkiatis K, Garganis K, Benjamin CF, Karanasiou I, Kondylidis N, Harushukuri J, Matsopoulos GK. Standardization of presurgical language fMRI in Greek population: Mapping of six critical regions. Brain And Behavior 2022, 12: e2609. PMID: 35587046, PMCID: PMC9226851, DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2609.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsLanguage mappingFunctional magnetic resonance imagingPresurgical language mappingMother tongueLanguage systemWernicke-LichtheimLanguage regionsLanguage functional magnetic resonance imagingGreekLanguage lateralizationHealthy right-handed volunteersGreek populationRight-handed volunteersMagnetic resonance imagingClinical setupEloquent cortexFMRI acquisitionContralateral cerebellumPresurgical evaluationAppropriate tasksGreek patientsWada testResonance imagingNoninvasive alternativeFMRI protocolResponse to "Letter to the Editor. The weight of functional MRI to predict surgery-induced risk after tumor resection: enough to be safe?"
Połczyńska M, Benjamin C, Bookheimer S. Response to "Letter to the Editor. The weight of functional MRI to predict surgery-induced risk after tumor resection: enough to be safe?". Journal Of Neurosurgery 2022, 137: 314-315. PMID: 39314541, PMCID: PMC11419400.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConcepts
2021
Cognitive Biomarkers in the Clinic: Lessons From Presurgical fMRI
Benjamin CFA. Cognitive Biomarkers in the Clinic: Lessons From Presurgical fMRI. Journal Of Clinical Neurophysiology 2021, 39: 121-128. PMID: 34366397, DOI: 10.1097/wnp.0000000000000834.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsGerstmann Syndrome Deconstructed by Cortical Stimulation
Vaddiparti A, McGrath H, Benjamin C, Sivaraju A, Spencer DD, Hirsch LJ, Damisah E, Quraishi IH. Gerstmann Syndrome Deconstructed by Cortical Stimulation. Neurology 2021, 97: 420-422. PMID: 34187861, PMCID: PMC9246017, DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000012441.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsTumor location and reduction in functional MRI estimates of language laterality
Połczyńska MM, Beck L, Kuhn T, Benjamin CF, Ly TK, Japardi K, Cavanagh L, Bookheimer SY. Tumor location and reduction in functional MRI estimates of language laterality. Journal Of Neurosurgery 2021, 135: 1674-1684. PMID: 33799298, PMCID: PMC8909357, DOI: 10.3171/2020.9.jns202036.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsRight hemisphere tumorsAnterior tumorsHemisphere tumorsLaterality indexLanguage lateralityBroca's areaFMRI laterality indicesLeft hemisphere tumorsPosterior ROIsWhole-brain levelPosterior tumorsTumor locationTumor resectionPreoperative fMRIInferior frontal gyrusTumor groupLanguage cortexBrain tumorsPatientsNumerous confoundersTumor hemisphereConfoundersRegion of interestLeft inferior frontal gyrusTumors
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Honors
honor Clinical Research Training Scholarship
07/01/2018National AwardAmerican Academy of NeurologyDetailsUnited Stateshonor Sweblius Foundation Award
06/01/2017Yale School of Medicine AwardSwebilius FoundationDetailsUnited Stateshonor KL2 Junior Scholar's Award
07/01/2016Yale School of Medicine AwardYale Center for Clinical Investigation / NIHDetailsUnited Stateshonor Clinical Research Award
09/01/2013National AwardNational Academy of NeuropsychologyDetailsUnited States