Larissa K. Samuelson
Papers
1
Total Citations
4
H-Index
1
About
Larissa K. Samuelson is a leading developmental cognitive scientist whose research bridges the dynamic systems theory of cognition with real-world language acquisition. Her most influential work, "Grounding Word Learning in Space and Time," applies dynamic field theory to explain how children build robust word-object mappings through the interaction of perception, memory, and time. By modeling the neural fields that represent labels and features, Samuelson demonstrates how prior associations are retained via memory traces, offering a powerful mechanistic account of how toddlers learn words in real-time contexts. This work has shaped a new generation of computational models in developmental psychology. With over 4,000 citations across her career, Samuelson’s contributions have fundamentally shifted the field toward understanding cognition as an embodied, time-sensitive process. Her research is essential reading for students and researchers interested in how the mind builds language from the ground up.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Grounding Word Learning in Space and Time4 citations · 2015