Sayuri Hayakawa earned a B.A. in psychology from Boston University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from the University of Chicago. She completed her post-doctoral training and was subsequently promoted to Research Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Northwestern University. She is now an Assistant Professor of Psychology and directs the Language, Cognition, and Behavior Lab at Oklahoma State University.

Research Interests:

Dr. Hayakawa investigates the impact of language and bilingual experience on cognition and behavior, including consequences for judgment and decision making, language learning and processing, sensory perception, mental imagery, and memory. Her primary research interest is in understanding the role of language in how people make decisions. Her work involves looking at how using a native vs. foreign language affects the way we take and perceive risks, evaluate and act on moral dilemmas, and make important decisions regarding our health and well-being.