Helen Tager-Flusberg
Semi-retired BU dev cog psycho ling. Focus on autism
- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergCause we should all aim to hurt the most vulnerable of our population? Dang! Humans need to be nice to humans. Humans should care for and about other humans. First: DO NO HARM! www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/au...
- www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/o... Fun article to remind us of the best things in life!
- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergI was delighted to be featured in this charming podcast hosted by the brilliant poet Jack Underwood
- Tonight in BBC Radio 4’s Illuminated, the poet Jack Underwood offers his services as a metaphor consultant, for a very reasonable fee. Listen to The Metaphor Consultant in the Illuminated podcast Produced by Eleanor McDowall www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergPowerful piece in STAT this morning from some NIH staff members who have resigned www.statnews.com/2026/01/10/n... 1/3
- onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/author... A summary of my activities in 2025...let's hope 2026 is less damaging to the research and autism communities
- Reposted by Helen Tager-Flusberg🆓🔓 @htagerf.bsky.social (2025). Debate: Standing up for science - how to combat misinformation in child mental health: protecting the integrity of #autism research & practice in the 🇺🇸US. Child & adolescent mental health, 10.1111 doi.org/10.1111/camh...
- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergCongress is currently considering a piece of legislation that would effectively sever all scientific ties between the US and China. Unbelievable. You can read the AAU response here: www.aau.edu/key-issues/a...
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- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergOrigins of language, one of humanity’s most distinctive traits, may be best explained as a unique convergence of multiple capacities each with its own evolutionary history, involving intertwined roles of biology & culture. This framing can expand research horizons. A 🧵 on our @science.org paper.🧪1/n
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- Reposted by Helen Tager-Flusberglots of invigorating discussion this year at #BUCLD2025. Unsurprisingly, LLMs as models & as tools made many appearances w/a wide range of views/claims/caveats ab what they can(not) tell us ab language development I'm still chewing on a few things that seemed to get short shrift 1/4 🐦🐦
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- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergIf you're interested in how advances in human genomics are transforming our understanding of the biology of spoken & written language abilities, please do check out my new peer-reviewed "tutorial" article, just published. 🗣️🧬🧪 [Will also make a Bsky explainer 🧵 on it next week when I get some time🙂.]
- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergConversational turn-taking feels effortless, but it's a complex dance. We find social context—who you're talking to and what you're talking about—fundamentally changes conversational dynamics in both autistic & TD children. 1/ onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... w @chrismmcox.bsky.social
- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergHappy with this popular science article about our work (with @lindadrijvers.bsky.social and @judithholler.bsky.social), showing that listeners use co-speech hand gestures to predict upcoming meaning ✋ www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...
- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergNew paper alert! Rare DNA changes in the SETBP1 gene are linked to speech problems & diverse syndromes affecting brain development. Work led by ace postdoc @maggiemkwong.bsky.social uncovered impact of different gene variants, coupling clinical/speech evaluation to molecular & cellular readouts.🧬🗣️🔬🧪
- A rewarding start to my day!
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- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergGift article for any uniformed friends or family: experts overwhelmingly agree that the apparent increase in autism in USA is due to broader inclusion criteria and diagnoses. It is NOT caused by tylenol or vaccines www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/o...
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- How Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.,’s Anti-Vax Agenda Is Infecting America
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- www.propublica.org/article/rfk-... Excellent and disturbing article. Pleased to have contributed some background.
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- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergReally amazing work that challenges some long-held beliefs about cortical plasticity. "We show adult sensory body maps are unaltered after amputation, suggesting deprivation-driven plasticity is even more marginal than argued by the strongest opponents of cortical reorganization."
- Now out in @natneuro.nature.com What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed? Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7 🧵1/18
- Interesting critique
- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergPlease sign! Science funding got strong support from the Senate but is now in the House! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
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- Excited to co-host this workshop! Lots of great speakers and opportunities to learn about best practices for fNIRS research with autistic children
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- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergHuge congratulations to the brilliant Nora Newcombe, recipient of the 2025 David E. Rumelhart Prize! 🏅#CogSci2025
- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergNotes from @noranewcombe.bsky.social 's beautiful Rumelhart Prize "tasting menu" - congratulations Nora!!! #CogSci2025
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- www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/s... Lovely article!
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- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergWhat does 18,000+ brave signatories look like standing together in massive solidarity with the #NIH heroes of the historic Bethesda Declaration??... Find out by adding YOUR NAME to our #NIHLove letter here! - actionnetwork.org/forms/add-na... #StandUpForScience #BethesdaDeclaration #StopTrump
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- Exciting new game! Who wants to play? publishorperish.games
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- Science is under siege. Join us in adding your name to our open letter condemning Trump’s escalated assault on science in America. #StandUpForScience actionnetwork.org/petitions/op...
- Congratulations @noranewcombe.bsky.social !
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- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergVery sorry to learn of the passing of LouAnn Gerken, who had such an impact on our understanding of the acquisition of speech sounds and sound patterns obits.mlive.com/us/obituarie...
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- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergFYI: The Spencer Foundation, Kapor Foundation, The William T. Grant Foundation, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation have collaborated to offer $25K rapid response grants. "This rapid response bridge funding opportunity is for scholars and teams whose grants have recently been cancelled by NSF."
- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergI had what I found to be an insightful conversation with @htagerf.bsky.social about the newly formed Coalition of Autism Scientists, including why she started the coalition, the work they plan to do, and the strength of the autism research community. Read more below!
- Last week, @htagerf.bsky.social formed the Coalition of Autism Scientists, which already has 220 members and seeks to weigh in on the U.S. government’s plans for autism research. By @sydneywyatt.bsky.social www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/the...
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- Reposted by Helen Tager-FlusbergWowsers what a powerful rallying cry to stand up for science by Dr Andy Shih after accepting the #INSAR2025 autism research advocacy award
- This is worse than we imagined
- Reposted by Helen Tager-Flusberg🔔BREAKING🔔 The NSF has frozen all research grant awards—cutting off life-saving science midstream and demanding ideological screenings for future funding. This is censorship disguised as oversight. Here’s how you can help us spread the word ➡️🧵(1/3): www.nature.com/articles/d41...
