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
Portfolio of SCN2A gene variants, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 9 March.
Portfolio of SCN2A gene variants, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 9 March.
By
Jill Adams
10 March 2026 | 2 min read
Hippocampus builds reputation as ‘general-purpose statistical learning machine’
New cross-species findings may help settle a long-standing debate about whether the hippocampus is required for passive learning.
Hippocampus builds reputation as ‘general-purpose statistical learning machine’
New cross-species findings may help settle a long-standing debate about whether the hippocampus is required for passive learning.
By
Natalia Mesa
10 March 2026 | 5 min read
‘The Fox, the Shrew, and You: How Brains Evolved,’ an excerpt
In his new book, Rogier Mars provides a detailed account of animal and human brain evolution. In this excerpt from Chapter 1, he starts with the sea squirt—and why it needs the brain it eats after its larval stage.
‘The Fox, the Shrew, and You: How Brains Evolved,’ an excerpt
In his new book, Rogier Mars provides a detailed account of animal and human brain evolution. In this excerpt from Chapter 1, he starts with the sea squirt—and why it needs the brain it eats after its larval stage.
By
Rogier Mars
10 March 2026 | 6 min read