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 | 4 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
Neuroscience needs engineers—for more reasons than you think
Adopting an engineering mindset will help the field focus its research priorities.
Neuroscience needs engineers—for more reasons than you think
Adopting an engineering mindset will help the field focus its research priorities.
By
Timothy O’Leary
3 November 2025 | 9 min listen
Nonhuman primate research to lose federal funding at major European facility
The Dutch Senate has ordered the Biomedical Primate Research Centre in the Netherlands to shift its funding away from primate experiments by 2030.
Nonhuman primate research to lose federal funding at major European facility
The Dutch Senate has ordered the Biomedical Primate Research Centre in the Netherlands to shift its funding away from primate experiments by 2030.
By
Lauren Schenkman
30 October 2025 | 4 min read
Image integrity issues create new headache for subarachnoid hemorrhage research
First-time sleuths found potentially problematic images in hundreds of papers about early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Image integrity issues create new headache for subarachnoid hemorrhage research
First-time sleuths found potentially problematic images in hundreds of papers about early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage.
By
Lauren Schneider
30 October 2025 | 5 min read