Our research

Our lab sits at the intersection of cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and linguistics. The goal of our research is to understand how language works in minds and machines. What representations and algorithms support language learning, comprehension, and production? How does language interact with other forms of knowledge and reasoning? And how can our understanding of human cognition help us develop better systems of artificial intelligence?

Our work approaches these questions from many angles, including machine learning, behavioral experiments, and corpus analyses. We use computational tools to test theories about the human mind, and we use cognitive psychology to evaluate and improve the abilities of artificial models.

Here is a sample of topics that we are currently interested in:

• Machine psychology: How can we develop a scientific framework for understanding the capabilities and limitations of AI systems, especially large language models?
• Pragmatics and social intelligence: How do humans reason about other agents to understand and use language? How does communication relate to social intelligence and theory of mind?
• Resource rationality: How do humans perform complex computational problems given limited cognitive resources?
• Multimodal communication: How do speakers transmit information across multiple channels in parallel (e.g., speech and gesture), and how do listeners integrate this information?

For more details about our research, take a look at our Publications. To learn more about our team and joining the lab, please see our Members page.

Our values

Open science

We are dedicated to open, transparent, and reproducible science. We strive to share our code and data whenever possible.

Outreach

We aim to provide opportunities for training and mentorship, and communicate our research to the broader public.

Diversity &
inclusion

We are committed to creating a community where every member feels safe and respected, no matter their background or identity.