World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Elizabeth S. Spelke

Elizabeth S. Spelke

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Best Female Scientists
2025

D-Index & Metrics

Discipline name D-Index World Ranking Current World Ranking National Ranking Current National Ranking Publications Citations
Best Female Scientists 121 522 495 309 290 383 66710
Psychology 120 255 221 163 139 365 67022

Elizabeth S. Spelke publications per year

The chart shows the history of publications by Elizabeth S. Spelke between 1973 and 2025, highlighting the no. of papers published in each year and offering an overview of the publication velocity of this scholar. Elizabeth S. Spelke published across 53 years, from 1973 to 2025, averaging 7.9 papers a year. Output peaked at 25 publications in 2022. 16 of the 419 publications appeared in the last two years.

No. of publications
5 10 15 20 25
Bar chart. Horizontal axis: year, 1973 to 2025. Vertical axis: number of publications, 0 to 25. Peak 25 publications in 2022. 1973: 1 publication 1974: 1 publication 1975: 1 publication 1976: 2 publications 1977: 1 publication 1978: 0 publications 1979: 3 publications 1980: 3 publications 1981: 4 publications 1982: 1 publication 1983: 7 publications 1984: 3 publications 1985: 5 publications 1986: 5 publications 1987: 3 publications 1988: 2 publications 1989: 4 publications 1990: 2 publications 1991: 3 publications 1992: 4 publications 1993: 7 publications 1994: 7 publications 1995: 6 publications 1996: 11 publications 1997: 0 publications 1998: 8 publications 1999: 10 publications 2000: 6 publications 2001: 8 publications 2002: 8 publications 2003: 9 publications 2004: 12 publications 2005: 11 publications 2006: 15 publications 2007: 11 publications 2008: 19 publications 2009: 24 publications 2010: 18 publications 2011: 17 publications 2012: 11 publications 2013: 19 publications 2014: 9 publications 2015: 9 publications 2016: 9 publications 2017: 17 publications 2018: 9 publications 2019: 9 publications 2020: 9 publications 2021: 11 publications 2022: 25 publications 2023: 4 publications 2024: 8 publications 2025: 8 publications
1973 2025

419 publications in total across all disciplines

View publications per year as a table
Elizabeth S. Spelke: publications per year, 1973 to 2025
Year Publications
1973 1
1974 1
1975 1
1976 2
1977 1
1978 0
1979 3
1980 3
1981 4
1982 1
1983 7
1984 3
1985 5
1986 5
1987 3
1988 2
1989 4
1990 2
1991 3
1992 4
1993 7
1994 7
1995 6
1996 11
1997 0
1998 8
1999 10
2000 6
2001 8
2002 8
2003 9
2004 12
2005 11
2006 15
2007 11
2008 19
2009 24
2010 18
2011 17
2012 11
2013 19
2014 9
2015 9
2016 9
2017 17
2018 9
2019 9
2020 9
2021 11
2022 25
2023 4
2024 8
2025 8
Total 419
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Elizabeth S. Spelke publication distribution in Psychology in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Psychology in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Elizabeth S. Spelke sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
200 400 600
Bar chart with 69 bars. Horizontal axis: publications, 31–40 to 705+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 736. Most scientists, 736, have 101–110 publications. The last bar groups every scientist with 705 publications or more. The highlighted bar, 361–370 publications, is where this scientist sits. 31–40 publications: 6 scientists 41–50 publications: 52 scientists 51–60 publications: 138 scientists 61–70 publications: 299 scientists 71–80 publications: 461 scientists 81–90 publications: 605 scientists 91–100 publications: 713 scientists 101–110 publications: 736 scientists 111–120 publications: 686 scientists 121–130 publications: 670 scientists 131–140 publications: 644 scientists 141–150 publications: 597 scientists 151–160 publications: 576 scientists 161–170 publications: 477 scientists 171–180 publications: 450 scientists 181–190 publications: 397 scientists 191–200 publications: 343 scientists 201–210 publications: 328 scientists 211–220 publications: 313 scientists 221–230 publications: 283 scientists 231–240 publications: 226 scientists 241–250 publications: 196 scientists 251–260 publications: 201 scientists 261–270 publications: 171 scientists 271–280 publications: 151 scientists 281–290 publications: 139 scientists 291–300 publications: 113 scientists 301–310 publications: 102 scientists 311–320 publications: 100 scientists 321–330 publications: 76 scientists 331–340 publications: 92 scientists 341–350 publications: 85 scientists 351–360 publications: 69 scientists 361–370 publications: 71 scientists 371–380 publications: 63 scientists 381–390 publications: 58 scientists 391–400 publications: 57 scientists 401–410 publications: 43 scientists 411–420 publications: 33 scientists 421–430 publications: 50 scientists 431–440 publications: 41 scientists 441–450 publications: 32 scientists 451–460 publications: 27 scientists 461–470 publications: 28 scientists 471–480 publications: 25 scientists 481–490 publications: 28 scientists 491–500 publications: 20 scientists 501–510 publications: 23 scientists 511–520 publications: 26 scientists 521–530 publications: 17 scientists 531–540 publications: 21 scientists 541–550 publications: 14 scientists 551–560 publications: 16 scientists 561–570 publications: 10 scientists 571–580 publications: 22 scientists 581–590 publications: 9 scientists 591–600 publications: 14 scientists 601–610 publications: 9 scientists 611–620 publications: 11 scientists 621–630 publications: 4 scientists 631–640 publications: 7 scientists 641–650 publications: 5 scientists 651–660 publications: 10 scientists 661–670 publications: 8 scientists 671–680 publications: 8 scientists 681–690 publications: 4 scientists 691–700 publications: 3 scientists 701–704 publications: 4 scientists 705+ publications: 100 scientists
31–40 publications 705+

This scientist: 365 publications — 92nd percentile

92% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 705 publications or more.

View publications distribution as a table
Number of Psychology scientists by publication count, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 11,416 ranked scientists.
Publications Scientists This scientist
31–40 6
41–50 52
51–60 138
61–70 299
71–80 461
81–90 605
91–100 713
101–110 736
111–120 686
121–130 670
131–140 644
141–150 597
151–160 576
161–170 477
171–180 450
181–190 397
191–200 343
201–210 328
211–220 313
221–230 283
231–240 226
241–250 196
251–260 201
261–270 171
271–280 151
281–290 139
291–300 113
301–310 102
311–320 100
321–330 76
331–340 92
341–350 85
351–360 69
361–370 71 365
371–380 63
381–390 58
391–400 57
401–410 43
411–420 33
421–430 50
431–440 41
441–450 32
451–460 27
461–470 28
471–480 25
481–490 28
491–500 20
501–510 23
511–520 26
521–530 17
531–540 21
541–550 14
551–560 16
561–570 10
571–580 22
581–590 9
591–600 14
601–610 9
611–620 11
621–630 4
631–640 7
641–650 5
651–660 10
661–670 8
671–680 8
681–690 4
691–700 3
701–704 4
705+ 100
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Elizabeth S. Spelke D-index placement in Psychology in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Psychology scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Elizabeth S. Spelke sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
200 400 600
Bar chart with 58 bars. Horizontal axis: D-Index, 30–31 to 144+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 702. Most scientists, 702, have 32–33 D-Index. The last bar groups every scientist with 144 D-Index or more. The highlighted bar, 120–121 D-Index, is where this scientist sits. 30–31 D-Index: 398 scientists 32–33 D-Index: 702 scientists 34–35 D-Index: 671 scientists 36–37 D-Index: 659 scientists 38–39 D-Index: 641 scientists 40–41 D-Index: 671 scientists 42–43 D-Index: 617 scientists 44–45 D-Index: 558 scientists 46–47 D-Index: 495 scientists 48–49 D-Index: 487 scientists 50–51 D-Index: 445 scientists 52–53 D-Index: 390 scientists 54–55 D-Index: 408 scientists 56–57 D-Index: 345 scientists 58–59 D-Index: 325 scientists 60–61 D-Index: 321 scientists 62–63 D-Index: 248 scientists 64–65 D-Index: 290 scientists 66–67 D-Index: 218 scientists 68–69 D-Index: 219 scientists 70–71 D-Index: 215 scientists 72–73 D-Index: 183 scientists 74–75 D-Index: 169 scientists 76–77 D-Index: 132 scientists 78–79 D-Index: 137 scientists 80–81 D-Index: 120 scientists 82–83 D-Index: 112 scientists 84–85 D-Index: 86 scientists 86–87 D-Index: 101 scientists 88–89 D-Index: 83 scientists 90–91 D-Index: 77 scientists 92–93 D-Index: 70 scientists 94–95 D-Index: 78 scientists 96–97 D-Index: 58 scientists 98–99 D-Index: 53 scientists 100–101 D-Index: 57 scientists 102–103 D-Index: 48 scientists 104–105 D-Index: 53 scientists 106–107 D-Index: 46 scientists 108–109 D-Index: 24 scientists 110–111 D-Index: 35 scientists 112–113 D-Index: 27 scientists 114–115 D-Index: 32 scientists 116–117 D-Index: 31 scientists 118–119 D-Index: 22 scientists 120–121 D-Index: 16 scientists 122–123 D-Index: 24 scientists 124–125 D-Index: 18 scientists 126–127 D-Index: 11 scientists 128–129 D-Index: 19 scientists 130–131 D-Index: 10 scientists 132–133 D-Index: 16 scientists 134–135 D-Index: 10 scientists 136–137 D-Index: 12 scientists 138–139 D-Index: 8 scientists 140–141 D-Index: 5 scientists 142–143 D-Index: 12 scientists 144+ D-Index: 98 scientists
30–31 D-Index 144+

This scientist: 120 D-Index — 98th percentile

98% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 144 D-Index or more.

View D-Index distribution as a table
Number of Psychology scientists by D-index, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 11,416 ranked scientists.
D-Index Scientists This scientist
30–31 398
32–33 702
34–35 671
36–37 659
38–39 641
40–41 671
42–43 617
44–45 558
46–47 495
48–49 487
50–51 445
52–53 390
54–55 408
56–57 345
58–59 325
60–61 321
62–63 248
64–65 290
66–67 218
68–69 219
70–71 215
72–73 183
74–75 169
76–77 132
78–79 137
80–81 120
82–83 112
84–85 86
86–87 101
88–89 83
90–91 77
92–93 70
94–95 78
96–97 58
98–99 53
100–101 57
102–103 48
104–105 53
106–107 46
108–109 24
110–111 35
112–113 27
114–115 32
116–117 31
118–119 22
120–121 16 120
122–123 24
124–125 18
126–127 11
128–129 19
130–131 10
132–133 16
134–135 10
136–137 12
138–139 8
140–141 5
142–143 12
144+ 98
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Research.com Recognitions

  • 2025 - Research.com Best Female Scientists Award
  • 2014 - Kurt Koffka Medal, Giessen University
  • 2009 - Jean Nicod Prize, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
  • 2002 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • 2000 - APA Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Psychology, American Psychological Association
  • 2000 - William James Fellow Award, Association for Psychological Science (APA)
  • 1999 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
  • 1997 - Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • 1988 - Fellow of John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation

Overview

Elizabeth S. Spelke is affiliated with Harvard University in the United States and has contributed extensively to the field of psychology, with a focus on developmental and educational psychology. Their work spans several subfields including social psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and statistics and probability.

Their research primarily explores topics related to child and animal learning development, cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills, neuroendocrine regulation and behavior, action observation and synchronization, mathematics education and teaching techniques, psychology of moral and emotional judgment, and language development and disorders.

Frequent coauthors who have collaborated with Elizabeth S. Spelke include Brandon Matthew Woo, Samuel A. Mehr, Shari Liu, Tomer Ullman, and Joshua B. Tenenbaum.

Spelke's publications have appeared repeatedly in venues such as Open Mind, PLoS ONE, Developmental Science, Nature, and Behavioral and Brain Sciences.

Selected recent papers by Elizabeth S. Spelke include:

  • Online Developmental Science to Foster Innovation, Access, and Impact (2020) - Trends in Cognitive Sciences
  • Across demographics and recent history, most parents sing to their infants and toddlers daily (2021) - Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences
  • Toddlers' social evaluations of agents who act on false beliefs (2022) - Developmental Science
  • Early concepts of intimacy: Young humans use saliva sharing to infer close relationships (2022) - Science
  • Object permanence in newborn chicks is robust against opposing evidence (2024) - arXiv (Cornell University)

Elizabeth S. Spelke has been recognized with a number of awards over their career, including the Kurt Koffka Medal from Giessen University (2014), Jean Nicod Prize awarded by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in 2009, and election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 2002.

Additional honors include the APA Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Psychology and William James Fellow Award from the Association for Psychological Science (both in 2000), membership in the National Academy of Sciences (1999), fellowship of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1997), and fellowship of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation (1988).

Best Publications

  • Core systems of number

    Lisa Feigenson;Stanislas Dehaene;Elizabeth Spelke

  • Sources of Mathematical Thinking: Behavioral and Brain-Imaging Evidence

    S. Dehaene;E. S Spelke;P. Pinel;R. Stanescu

  • Large number discrimination in 6-month-old infants.

    Fei Xu;Elizabeth S. Spelke

  • Origins of knowledge.

    Elizabeth S. Spelke;Karen Breinlinger;Janet Macomber;Kristen Jacobson

  • Principles of Object Perception

    Elizabeth S. Spelke

  • Object permanence in five-month-old infants

    Renée Baillargeon;Elizabeth S. Spelke;Stanley Wasserman

  • Sex Differences in Intrinsic Aptitude for Mathematics and Science?: A Critical Review.

    Elizabeth S. Spelke

  • The native language of social cognition

    Katherine D. Kinzler;Emmanuel Dupoux;Elizabeth S. Spelke

  • Domain-specific knowledge and conceptual change.

    Susan Carey;Elizabeth Spelke

  • Initial knowledge: six suggestions

    Elizabeth S. Spelke

  • Perception of partly occluded objects in infancy

    Philip J. Kellman;Elizabeth S. Spelke

  • A Dissociation Between Moral Judgments and Justifications

    Marc D. Hauser;Fiery Cushman;Liane Young;R. Kang-Xing Jin

  • Origins of Number Sense Large-Number Discrimination in Human Infants

    Jennifer S. Lipton;Elizabeth S. Spelke

  • The Double-Edged Sword of Pedagogy: Instruction Limits Spontaneous Exploration and Discovery

    Elizabeth Bonawitz;Patrick Shafto;Hyowon Gweon;Noah D. Goodman

  • Newborn infants perceive abstract numbers

    Vé Ronique Izard;Coralie Sann;Elizabeth S. Spelke;Arlette Streri

  • A geometric process for spatial reorientation in young children

    Linda Hermer;Elizabeth S. Spelke

  • Ontological categories guide young children's inductions of word meaning: object terms and substance terms.

    Nancy N. Soja;Susan Carey;Elizabeth S. Spelke

  • Log or Linear? Distinct Intuitions of the Number Scale in Western and Amazonian Indigene Cultures

    Stanislas Dehaene;Véronique Izard;Elizabeth S. Spelke;Pierre Pica

  • Modularity and development: the case of spatial reorientation

    Linda Hermer;Elizabeth Spelke

  • Human spatial representation: insights from animals.

    Ranxiao Frances Wang;Elizabeth S Spelke

  • Infants' knowledge of object motion and human action.

    Elizabeth S. Spelke;Ann Phillips;Amanda L. Woodward

Frequent Co-Authors

Stanislas Dehaene
Stanislas Dehaene Collège de France
Mahzarin R. Banaji
Mahzarin R. Banaji Harvard University
Katherine D. Kinzler
Katherine D. Kinzler University of Chicago
Arlette Streri
Arlette Streri Université Paris Cité
Susan Carey
Susan Carey Harvard University
Claes von Hofsten
Claes von Hofsten Uppsala University
Kristina R. Olson
Kristina R. Olson University of Washington
Rochel Gelman
Rochel Gelman Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Carol S. Dweck
Carol S. Dweck Stanford University

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