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Professor Samuelson's research examines processes of cognitive development with a focus on early word and category learning and incorporates neural network and dynamic neural field models. 

Larissa Samuelson joined the School of Psychology as a professor in 2015. She received a BS with honors from Indiana University in 1993 and a joint Ph.D. in Psychology and Cognitive Science from Indiana University in 2000. From 2000-2015 she was in the Psychology Department at the University of Iowa. In 2010 Larissa received the American Psychological Association Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology in the area of developmental psychology. She has had continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health since 2004 and is an affiliate of the DeLTA Center.

Indicative Publications

Perry, L.K., Kucker, S.C., Horst, J.S. & Samuelson, L.K., (2023) Late bloomer or language disorder? Differences in toddler vocabulary composition associated with long-term language outcomes. Developmental Science

Bakopoulou, M., Lorenz, M., Forbes, S., Tremlin, R., Bates, J., & Samuelson, L.K. (2023). Vocabulary and automatic attention: The relation between novel words and gaze dynamics in noun generalization. Developmental Science.

Bhat. A.A., Spencer, J.P., & Samuelson, L.K. (2022). Word-Object Learning via Visual Exploration in Space: A Neural Process Model of Cross-Situational Word Learning. Psychological Review, 129(4), 640-695

Samuelson, L.K., (2021). Towards a Precision Science of Word Learning: Understanding Individual Vocabulary Pathways. Child Development Perspectives, 15 (2) 117-124.

Perone, S., Plebanek, D., Lorenz, M.G., Spencer, J.P., & Samuelson, L. K., (2019). Empirical tests of a brain-based model of executive function development. Child Development, 90(1) 210-226.

Prof Samuelson is an expert on early word learning and language development. She also studies categorisation, perceptual development and exectutive function.

Director of Research, School of Psychology, Fall 2018-present