Maryellen MacDonald is the Donald P. Hayes Professor (emerita) of Psychology and Language Sciences at the University of Wisconsin−Madison. She is a cognitive scientist with a focus on psycholinguistics, the study of how we comprehend, produce, and learn languages. She has researched the impact of language in children, young adults, elderly adults, and patients with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as language production in six different languages. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin.
You Can Learn a Lot About Someone’s Mind From the Way They Talk
Scientists are uncovering how the hidden effort of talking affects everything from everyday conversations to spotting deception and fake news.
October 3, 2025
