Laurie Santos, PhD
Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of PsychologyDownloadHi-Res Photo
About
Copy Link
Titles
Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology
Appointments
Department of Psychology
ProfessorPrimaryInstitution for Social and Policy Studies
ProfessorSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- PhD
- Harvard University, Psychology (Cognition, Brain & Behavior) (2003)
Research
Copy Link
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Primates; Psychiatry and Psychology
ORCID
0000-0003-1686-7867- View Lab Website
Comparative Cognition Lab
Research at a Glance
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Laurie Santos's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Laurie Santos is interested in exploring.
9Publications
755Citations
Primates
Publications
2026
‘Unwilling’ vs. ‘Unable’: do domesticated dogs choose partners based on their intentional actions?
Choi Y, Santos L. ‘Unwilling’ vs. ‘Unable’: do domesticated dogs choose partners based on their intentional actions? Animal Cognition 2026, 29: 25. PMID: 41649623, PMCID: PMC12886311, DOI: 10.1007/s10071-026-02045-5.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2025
Exploring the evolutionary roots of theory of mind: Primate errors on false belief tasks reveal representational limits
Royka A, Horschler D, Bargmann W, Santos L. Exploring the evolutionary roots of theory of mind: Primate errors on false belief tasks reveal representational limits. Cognition 2025, 270: 106400. PMID: 41468653, DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2025.106400.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsBelief tasksEvolutionary rootsPattern of performanceControl rhesus monkeysRoots of theoriesToM performanceFalse beliefsMental statesHuman infantsThat—despiteHuman adultsAgent's future actionsNonhuman primatesToMMonkeysFuture actionsPrimatesTaskBeliefsToM.Representational limitsDichotomyAdultsInforming does not require attributing ignorance
Royka A, Santos L. Informing does not require attributing ignorance. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2025, 122: e2504155122. PMID: 40343972, PMCID: PMC12107132, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2504155122.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
2024
Long-term analysis of a psychoeducational course on university students’ mental well-being
Hobbs C, Jelbert S, Santos L, Hood B. Long-term analysis of a psychoeducational course on university students’ mental well-being. Higher Education 2024, 88: 2093-2105. DOI: 10.1007/s10734-024-01202-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsMental Well-BeingPsychoeducation courseWell-beingPositive psychology courseIncrease mental well-beingPsychology courseUndergraduate studentsExploratory analysisUniversity studentsSustained long-termBaseline 1Higher education institutionsGroup analysisFollow-upStudentsLong-term benefitsStudent engagementPsychologyUndergraduateUniversity-wide surveyEngagementPredictions About Reward Outcomes in Rhesus Monkeys
Huang Y, Chang H, Santos L, Rosati A. Predictions About Reward Outcomes in Rhesus Monkeys. Behavioral Neuroscience 2024, 138: 43-58. PMID: 38060026, PMCID: PMC11287479, DOI: 10.1037/bne0000573.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsReward prediction errorReward outcomesNovel behavioral taskReward-based decisionCognitive processesReward sensitivityCognitive evidenceBehavioral tasksUnexpected rewardsSurprising eventsPrediction errorLifespan changesStudy 1Study 2Human infantsNonhuman animalsAdolescent monkeysRewardDevelopmental signaturesNeurobiological techniquesOlder ageMonkeysPossible outcomesRhesus monkeysTask
2023
ManyDogs 1: A Multi-Lab Replication Study of Dogs’ Pointing Comprehension
Project M, Espinosa J, Stevens J, Alberghina D, Alway H, Barela J, Bogese M, Bray E, Buchsbaum D, Byosiere S, Byrne M, Cavalli C, Chaudoir L, Collins-Pisano C, DeBoer H, Douglas L, Dror S, Dzik M, Ferguson B, Fisher L, Fitzpatrick H, Freeman M, Frinton S, Glover M, Gnanadesikan G, Goacher J, Golańska M, Guran C, Hare E, Hare B, Hickey M, Horschler D, Huber L, Jim H, Johnston A, Kaminski J, Kelly D, Kuhlmeier V, Lassiter L, Lazarowski L, Leighton-Birch J, MacLean E, Maliszewska K, Marra V, Montgomery L, Murray M, Nelson E, Ostojić L, Palermo S, Parks Russell A, Pelgrim M, Pellowe S, Reinholz A, Rial L, Richards E, Ross M, Rothkoff L, Salomons H, Sanger J, Santos L, Schirle A, Shearer S, Silver Z, Silverman J, Sommese A, Srdoc T, St. John-Mosse H, Vega A, Vékony K, Völter C, Walsh C, Worth Y, Zipperling L, Żołędziewska B, Zylberfuden S. ManyDogs 1: A Multi-Lab Replication Study of Dogs’ Pointing Comprehension. Animal Behavior And Cognition 2023, 10: 232-286. DOI: 10.26451/abc.10.03.03.2023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
2014
The evolution of self-control
MacLean E, Hare B, Nunn C, Addessi E, Amici F, Anderson R, Aureli F, Baker J, Bania A, Barnard A, Boogert N, Brannon E, Bray E, Bray J, Brent L, Burkart J, Call J, Cantlon J, Cheke L, Clayton N, Delgado M, DiVincenti L, Fujita K, Herrmann E, Hiramatsu C, Jacobs L, Jordan K, Laude J, Leimgruber K, Messer E, de A. Moura A, Ostojić L, Picard A, Platt M, Plotnik J, Range F, Reader S, Reddy R, Sandel A, Santos L, Schumann K, Seed A, Sewall K, Shaw R, Slocombe K, Su Y, Takimoto A, Tan J, Tao R, van Schaik C, Virányi Z, Visalberghi E, Wade J, Watanabe A, Widness J, Young J, Zentall T, Zhao Y. The evolution of self-control. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2014, 111: e2140-e2148. PMID: 24753565, PMCID: PMC4034204, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1323533111.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsBrain volumeSelf-ControlCognitive consequencesCognitive evolutionDietary breadthMeasures of brain sizeProblem-solving tasksAbsolute brain volumeSocial group sizeCognitive performanceCognitive abilitiesBrain sizeEvolutionary neurobiologyDietary complexityBrainEvolutionary researchCortical reorganizationEvolutionary explanationsBody massNeurobiologyBreadthCognitionPrimatesEvolutionary relationshipsSpecies differences
2006
The evolution of our preferences: Evidence from capuchin monkey trading behavior
Chen, M.K., Lakshminaryanan, V., and Santos, L.R. (2006). The evolution of our preferences: Evidence from capuchin monkey trading behavior. J. Political Economy 114(3):517-537.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) know what others can and cannot hear
Santos, L.R., Nissen, A.G., and Ferrugia, J. (2006). Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) know what others can and cannot hear. Animal Behaviour 71(5):1175-1181.Peer-Reviewed Original Research