James Harris is professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, where he is founding director of the Developmental Neuropsychiatry Clinic. He is also a professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He served on the American Psychiatric Association committee that wrote the new definition of autism spectrum disorder for the DSM-5.
James Harris
Professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
From this contributor
Correcting the record: Leo Kanner and the broad autism phenotype
The specter of the ‘refrigerator mother’ theory continues to haunt the history of autism. New information puts Kanner’s observations of parents into context.
Correcting the record: Leo Kanner and the broad autism phenotype
By
James Harris, Joseph Piven
26 April 2016 | 10 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Astrocytes in mouse amygdala encode emotional state
The glial cells’ activity reliably tracks with freezing, hesitancy and other behaviors reminiscent of anxiety.
Astrocytes in mouse amygdala encode emotional state
The glial cells’ activity reliably tracks with freezing, hesitancy and other behaviors reminiscent of anxiety.
By
Holly Barker
24 March 2026 | 4 min read
Data duplications flagged in highly cited gut-brain studies
The duplications are a product of “inadvertent errors,” the authors say.
Data duplications flagged in highly cited gut-brain studies
The duplications are a product of “inadvertent errors,” the authors say.
By
Claudia López Lloreda
24 March 2026 | 4 min read
Infant Brain Imaging Study findings, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 23 March.
Infant Brain Imaging Study findings, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 23 March.
By
Jill Adams
24 March 2026 | 2 min read