Vicky Lai
Associate Professor, Cognition & Neural Systems
Interim Director, Cognitive Science Program
Associate Professor, Cognitive Science Program
Faculty, Second Language Acquisition and Teaching Program
Courtesy Faculty, Department of Linguistics
Director, Cognitive Neuroscience of Language Laboratory

Research Interests:
Selected Publications:
- Yu, Y., Krebs, L., Beeman, M., & Lai, V. T. (2025). Hidden Brain States Reveal the Temporal Dynamics of Neural Oscillations During Metaphor Generation and Their Role in Verbal Creativity. Psychophysiology, 62(2), e70023.
- Lai, V.T., Pfeifer, V., & Ku, L.C. (2024). Emotional language processing: An individual differences approach. Psychology of Learning and Motivation - Advances in Research and Theory, 80, 73-104.
- Lai, V. T., Hubbard, R., Ku, L. C., & Pfeifer, V. (2023). Electrophysiology of non-literal language. Language electrified: Principles, methods, and future perspectives of investigation, 613-646.
Courses Taught:
- PSY 300 – Intro to Cognitive Neuroscience - A Guide to Mind and Brain (2023)
- PSYS 407 - Language and Thought (2023)
- NSCS 320 – Issues/Themes in Cognitive Science (2022)
- PSY 530 – Neural Basis of Language (2026)
- PSY 496F - Cognitive Psychology: Seminar (2017)
*Year listed indicates when this individual last taught the specified course.
Updated: 07/07/25