Helena Rutherford, PhD
Associate Professor in the Child Study CenterDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Appointments
Child Study Center
Primary
Department of Psychology
Secondary
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About
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Titles
Associate Professor in the Child Study Center
Appointments
Child Study Center
Associate Professor TenurePrimaryDepartment of Psychology
Associate Professor TenureSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Honorary Research Associate/Postdoctoral Fellow
- University College London (2012)
- Postdoctoral Fellow/Associate
- Yale University School of Medicine (2010)
- Postgraduate Fellow
- Yale University School of Medicine (2009)
- PhD
- Bangor University, Psychology (2008)
- BS
- Bangor University, Psychology (2005)
- MSc
- Bangor University (2005)
Research
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Overview
Individual differences in the neural correlates of infant cue perception
Maternal distress tolerance and stress reactivity
ORCID
0000-0001-8680-1535
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Helena Rutherford's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Helena Rutherford's research output by year.
Linda Mayes, MD
Kathryn M Wall Funaro, MS, MA
Amanda Lowell, PhD
Francesca Penner, PhD
Marc Potenza, PhD, MD
Michael Crowley, PhD
66Publications
1,291Citations
Publications
2026
Neural correlates of social exclusion in fathers with and without a history of intimate partner violence use: an event-related potential study
McGlade D, McFaul C, Crowley M, Wu J, Rutherford H, Stover C. Neural correlates of social exclusion in fathers with and without a history of intimate partner violence use: an event-related potential study. Social Neuroscience 2026, ahead-of-print: 1-14. PMID: 41925302, DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2026.2654445.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricInvestigating Associations Between Maternal Neural Responsivity and Infant Developmental Outcomes
Wall K, Penner F, Armstrong K, Lowell A, Potenza M, Mayes L, Rutherford H. Investigating Associations Between Maternal Neural Responsivity and Infant Developmental Outcomes. Developmental Psychology 2026, 10.1037/dev0002137. PMID: 41609654, PMCID: PMC13094934, DOI: 10.1037/dev0002137.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsSanté mentale et cerveau maternel
Ayala K, Rutherford H. Santé mentale et cerveau maternel. Sages-Femmes 2026, 25: 30-33. PMID: 41799298, PMCID: PMC12965765, DOI: 10.1016/j.sagf.2025.11.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAssociations between attentional disengagement from distressed infant faces and cortisol reactivity are moderated by depressive symptoms in pregnant women: an eye-tracking study
Dworschak C, Paganini G, Beech A, Gunther K, Rutherford H, Joormann J, Gadassi-Polack R. Associations between attentional disengagement from distressed infant faces and cortisol reactivity are moderated by depressive symptoms in pregnant women: an eye-tracking study. Archives Of Women's Mental Health 2026, 29: 3. PMID: 41484360, PMCID: PMC12764579, DOI: 10.1007/s00737-025-01638-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOperationalizing Psychological Trauma in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review
Rutherford H, Wall K, Goldman L, Shin J, Novak E, Lowell A, Penner F, Day M, Papa L, Wright D, Givrad S. Operationalizing Psychological Trauma in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review. Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice And Policy 2026, 18: 1-9. PMID: 40742688, PMCID: PMC12490802, DOI: 10.1037/tra0001968.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsAltmetric
2025
Perceived Connectedness During the Perinatal Period: Implications for Parent and Child Well-Being
Black A, Hossain M, Rutherford H, Nelson-Coffey S. Perceived Connectedness During the Perinatal Period: Implications for Parent and Child Well-Being. Journal Of Family Psychology 2025, 10.1037/fam0001437. PMID: 41379707, PMCID: PMC12700345, DOI: 10.1037/fam0001437.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMaternal Psychological Trauma Assessed Prenatally and Offspring Outcomes.
Shin J, Goldman L, Wall K, Novak E, Lowell A, Penner F, Day M, Wright D, Rutherford H, Givrad S. Maternal Psychological Trauma Assessed Prenatally and Offspring Outcomes. Trauma Violence & Abuse 2025, 15248380251376349. PMID: 41273023, DOI: 10.1177/15248380251376349.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsMentalizing under maternal stress: Using a baby simulator to investigate the impact of child-focused distress on maternal mentalizing and arousal.
Malcorps S, Vliegen N, Rutherford H, Luyten P. Mentalizing under maternal stress: Using a baby simulator to investigate the impact of child-focused distress on maternal mentalizing and arousal. Development And Psychopathology 2025, 38: 1-13. PMID: 41208273, DOI: 10.1017/s0954579425100424.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricRacial and Ethnic Representation in Studies of Psychological Trauma During Pregnancy in the United States
Wall K, Penner F, Goldman L, Shin J, Novak E, Lowell A, Day M, Papa L, Ojukwu D, Wright D, Givrad S, Rutherford H. Racial and Ethnic Representation in Studies of Psychological Trauma During Pregnancy in the United States. Journal Of Racial And Ethnic Health Disparities 2025, 1-12. PMID: 41136677, PMCID: PMC13159078, DOI: 10.1007/s40615-025-02661-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA Role for Fetal Movement in Shaping Maternal Neurodevelopment
Rutherford H, Ayala K, Falcioni L, Eilbott J, Voegtline K. A Role for Fetal Movement in Shaping Maternal Neurodevelopment. Developmental Psychobiology 2025, 67: e70073. PMID: 40879036, DOI: 10.1002/dev.70073.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetric
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
The Baby School Recruitment and Education Initiative
IRB ID2000022110RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2027Recruiting Participants
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Activities
activity F1000
2011 - PresentCommitteesAssociate Professoractivity Ongoing
2011 - PresentPeer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsReviewerDetailsAd-hoc Reviewer: Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, Cognition, Journal of Adolescent Health, Developmental Neuropsychology, Psychological Review, Psychiatry Research, Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychologyactivity Association for Psychological Science
2008 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsMemberactivity Vision Sciences Society
2005 - 2009Professional OrganizationsMember
News & Links
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News
- June 25, 2026
Yale Child Study Center Recognizes Spring 2026 Award Recipients and Retirees
- June 16, 2026
Yale Developmental Science Internship Welcomes Visiting Undergrad Interns for Summer 2026
- May 20, 2026
Rutherford and Omay to Lead Study of Oxytocin’s Effects on Surgery Patients
- February 09, 2026Source: Early Childhood Matters
Inside the parental mind
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