Lise Abrams

Lise Abrams serves as the Peter W. Stanley Professor of Linguistics and Cognitive Science and Chair of the Linguistics and Cognitive Science Department at Pomona College, where she has held faculty positions since 2018 after 20 years at the University of Florida. Her interdisciplinary work bridges psychology, linguistics, and cognitive science with a focus on lifespan language processing.

Education:

• Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
• M.A., University of California, Los Angeles
• B.A., Pomona College (Psychology & Mathematics)

Abrams investigates language-memory interactions across adulthood, specializing in word retrieval mechanisms, tip-of-the-tongue phenomena, and emotional influences on speech production. Her research examines how cognitive aging, bilingualism, and non-cognitive factors like anxiety affect communication, with particular attention to real-world challenges like proper name recall and taboo word interference. This work integrates experimental psychology with linguistic theory to explain everyday communication breakdowns.

Her recent publications (2023-2025) reveal evolving trends toward emotional language processing in aging populations, examining laughter's anxiety-reducing effects, taboo word interactions, and cross-linguistic tip-of-the-tongue resolution. Abrams consistently explores how arousal and valence modulate age-related differences in speech production, connecting laboratory findings to practical communication challenges in older adults.

Scientific Recognition:

• Fellow of Association for Psychological Science (2019)
• Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award (2019)
• Four society fellowships (APA, Gerontological Society, Psychonomic Society)
• Sigma Xi Young Investigator Award (2007)
• National mentorship awards from APA and Women in Cognitive Science

Abrams has secured significant funding including National Institute on Aging grants for aging-language research and mentored numerous students through University of Florida's Academy of Distinguished Teaching Scholars. Her leadership extends to coordinating Pomona's Cognitive Science Section and collaborating with international consortia like Cam-CAN.

As Principal Investigator of the Pomona College Cognitive Aging Lab, she directs research on speech production mechanisms using behavioral paradigms including picture-word interference and tip-of-the-tongue induction. Her team actively investigates cross-linguistic differences through Mandarin Chinese studies and examines emotional language processing in aging populations.