Lise Abrams

Peter W. Stanley Professor of Linguistics and Cognitive Science; Chair of Linguistics and Cognitive Science
With Pomona Since: 2018
Lise Abrams
  • Expertise

    Expertise

    Professor Abrams's research program investigates language and memory processes in younger and older adults, specifically (a) the processes involved in comprehending and producing words, and (b) linguistic, cognitive and non-cognitive factors that influence these processes. She is interested in the causes underlying real-world retrieval problems, including tip-of-the-tongue states, proper name recall, interference from taboo words, and spelling errors.

    Research Interests

    • Processes involved in comprehending and producing words
    • Linguistic, cognitive and non-cognitive factors that influence speech production
    • Causes underlying real-world retrieval problems

    Areas of Expertise

    • Language and memory
    • Speech production
    • Tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) states
    • Cognitive aging
    • Bilingualism
  • Work

    Work

    Recent Publications

    With Shafto, M. A, James, L. E., & Cam-CAN. (2019). 鈥淎ge-related changes in word retrieval vary by self-reported anxiety but not depression symptoms.鈥 Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition26, 767-780. doi: 10.1080/13825585.2018.1527284

    With Leon, S. A., Altmann, L. J. P., Gonzalez Rothi, L. J., & Heilman, K. M. (2019). 鈥淣ovel associative processing and aging: Effect on creative production.鈥 Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 26, 807-822. doi: 10.1080/13825585.2018.1532067

    With White, K. K., Hsi, L. R., & Watkins, E. C. (2018). 鈥淎re precues effective in proactively controlling taboo interference during speech production?鈥 Cognition and Emotion, 32, 1625-1636. doi: 10.1080/02699931.2018.1433637

    With Davis, D. K. (2017). 鈥淐ompetitors or teammates: How proper names influence each other,鈥 Current Directions in Psychological Science, 26, 87-93. doi: 10.1177/0963721416677804

    With Shafto, M. A, James, L. E., Tyler, L. K., & Cam-CAN. (2017). 鈥淎ge-related increases in verbal knowledge are not associated with word finding problems in the Cam-CAN cohort: What you know won't hurt you.鈥 Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 72, 100-106. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbw074

    With White, K. K., Koehler, S. M., & Collins, R. J. (2017). 鈥淟ions, tigers, and bears, oh sh!t: Semantics versus tabooness in speech production,鈥 Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 24, 489-495. doi: 10.3758/s13423-016-1084-8

    With Davis, D. K. (2016). 鈥淗ere's looking at you: Visual similarity exacerbates the Moses illusion for semantically similar celebrities,鈥 Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 42, 75-90. doi: 10.1037/xlm0000144

    With Davis, D. K. (2016). 鈥淭he tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon: Who, what, and why,鈥 In H. H. Wright (Ed.), Cognition, Language, and Aging (pp. 13-53). Philadelphia, PA: John Benjamins Publishing Company. doi: 10.1075/z.200.02abr

    With White, K. K., LaBat, L. R., & Rhynes, A. M. (2016). 鈥淐ompeting influences of emotion and phonology during picture-word interference,鈥 Language, Cognition, and Neuroscience, 31, 265-283. doi: 10.1080/23273798.2015.1101144

    With Farrell, M. T. (2014). 鈥淧icture-word interference reveals inhibitory effects of syllable frequency on lexical selection,鈥 The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 67, 525-541. doi: 10.1080/17470218.2013.820763

    With Pelham, S. D. (2014). 鈥淐ognitive advantages and disadvantages in early and late bilinguals,鈥 Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 40, 313-325. doi: 10.1037/a0035224

    Media Coverage

    NRC 麻豆传媒, November, 2019

    BBC 麻豆传媒 Mundo, January, 2019

    The New York Times, Smarter Living: October 2017

    Quartz: June 2017

    Association for Psychological Science, APS Observer: March 2017

  • Education

    Education

    Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles

    M.A., University of California, Los Angeles

    B.A., 麻豆传媒

  • Awards & Honors

    Awards & Honors

    Fellow, Association for Psychological Science, 2019

    Marquis Who鈥檚 Who Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, 2019

    Peter W. Stanley Chair of Linguistics and Cognitive Science, 麻豆传媒, 2018

    Fellow, Gerontological Society of America, 2014

    Fellow, Psychonomic Society, 2014

    Resident Fellow, IAU College, Aix-en-Provence, France, 2013-2014

    Academy of Distinguished Teaching Scholars, University of Florida, 2012

    Fellow, American Psychological Association, 2011

    Faculty Fellowship Summer Institute in Israel, 2011

    Sigma Xi Young Investigator Award, 2007

    APA Division 20 and the Retirement Research Foundation Mentor Award in Adult Development and Aging, 2007

    Women in Cognitive Science Mentorship Award, 2004

    National Institute on Aging (PI), $71,154 Grant, 鈥淐ontextual Relevance in Detecting Misspellings in Old Age鈥 2001-2002

    National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship, University of California Los Angeles, 1991-1995