Helen Tager-Flusberg is director of the Center for Autism Research Excellence at Boston University. Her research aims to untangle autism and language impairments using behavioral and brain-imagining studies. She was also a columnist for Spectrum.
Helen Tager-Flusberg
Boston University
From this contributor
Why no one needs a diagnosis of ‘social communication disorder’
A diagnosis of social communication disorder only keeps people from a community and resources they desperately want and need.
Why no one needs a diagnosis of ‘social communication disorder’
By
Helen Tager-Flusberg
17 April 2018 | 1 min read
Should scientists study mothers of children with autism?
Studying parents of children with autism has long been controversial, but that doesn’t mean scientists should avoid it.
Should scientists study mothers of children with autism?
By
Helen Tager-Flusberg
12 April 2016 | 1 min read
‘Frozen’ offers glimpse of autism in girls
Elsa, the star of the movie “Frozen,” is the poster child for girls with autism.
‘Frozen’ offers glimpse of autism in girls
By
Helen Tager-Flusberg
15 September 2015 | 4 min read
Time for some soul-searching in science
Scientists should slow down and return to the basic tenets of research to regain the public’s trust.
Time for some soul-searching in science
By
Helen Tager-Flusberg
1 September 2015 | 1 min read
Better behavioral tests may save trials of autism treatments
Trials to test drugs for autism suffer from subjective measurements and placebo effects. Helen Tager-Flusberg outlines how to ferret out the true effects of potential autism therapies.
Better behavioral tests may save trials of autism treatments
By
Helen Tager-Flusberg
21 April 2015 | 1 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Polarized cortical organoids mimic the brain’s regional organization
The organoids show region-specific gene-expression changes that match those observed during fetal development.
Polarized cortical organoids mimic the brain’s regional organization
The organoids show region-specific gene-expression changes that match those observed during fetal development.
By
Holly Barker
24 September 2026 | 4 min read
Prefrontal cortex has three transcriptomic acts across human lifespan, new atlas suggests
Various genes show distinct exits and entrances with age in the open-source dataset, the largest of its kind to date.
Prefrontal cortex has three transcriptomic acts across human lifespan, new atlas suggests
Various genes show distinct exits and entrances with age in the open-source dataset, the largest of its kind to date.
By
Siddhant Pusdekar
23 September 2026 | 5 min read
Microglia scoop out garbage from inside neurons
Through a newly identified process called skoupocytosis, neurons recruit the immune cells to remove cellular waste they find hard to deal with themselves.
Microglia scoop out garbage from inside neurons
Through a newly identified process called skoupocytosis, neurons recruit the immune cells to remove cellular waste they find hard to deal with themselves.
By
Siddhant Pusdekar
23 September 2026 | 0 min watch