Sandra J. E. Langeslag

Sandra J. E. Langeslag, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Associate Department Chair in the Department of Psychological Sciences at the University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL), where she also directs the Neurocognition of Emotion and Motivation (NEM) Lab. Her work focuses on the neurocognitive mechanisms of romantic love and emotion regulation, employing ERP, fMRI, and behavioral paradigms.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Biological and Cognitive Psychology – Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Research Interests:
Dr. Langeslag investigates how romantic love affects cognition, particularly attention and memory, and how love feelings can be up- or down-regulated through cognitive strategies. Her lab explores the neural correlates of love regulation, the impact of infatuation on daily functioning, and the parallels between romantic love and addiction.

Publications:
Her recent work addresses misconceptions about love, the cognitive consequences of romantic distraction, and the psychophysiological markers of love regulation. These studies collectively advance our understanding of how love modulates neural and behavioral processes.

Media and Outreach:
Dr. Langeslag is a frequent media contributor and public speaker, featured in outlets such as The New York Times, Time Magazine, and Greater Good Magazine. She is SAFE ZONE trained and actively recruits students and participants for her lab.

Advising and Grants:
She mentors both graduate and undergraduate researchers. Current Ph.D. students include Tabish Gul and Magda Martínez-Mata. She is currently recruiting new Ph.D. students for Fall 2025.

Labs and Teams:
She directs the Neurocognition of Emotion and Motivation (NEM) Lab at UMSL, which investigates the neural and cognitive underpinnings of romantic love and emotion regulation.