Kevin Pelphrey, PhD
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About
Biography
Kevin Pelphrey is an internationally renowned neuroscientist and the parent of a young woman with autism. He utilizes brain science to develop biologically-based tools for detection, stratification and individually tailored treatments. He leads the NIH Autism Center for Excellence—Multimodal Developmental Neurogenetics of Autism network that spans seven national sites. He directs an NIH postdoctoral training program to prepare scientist-clinicians for independent careers translating multidisciplinary science into novel treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders. At George Washington University, Dr. Pelphrey is the Carbonell Family Professor and director of the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute. The institute serves as a focal point for translational research and comprehensive clinical services for autism, while also serving as a beacon for policymakers seeking information on issues surrounding policy, research and treatment of autism.
Appointments
Child Study Center
Professor AdjunctPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- PhD
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2001)
Research
Overview
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Brain; Child Development; Child Psychiatry; Neurosciences; Psychiatry; Psychiatry and Psychology; Psychology, Child; Translational Research, Biomedical
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Kevin Pelphrey's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Kevin Pelphrey's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Kevin Pelphrey is interested in exploring.
James McPartland, PhD
Adam Naples, PhD
Brent Vander Wyk, PhD
10Publications
637Citations
Brain
Child Development
Publications
2024
A common genetic variant in the Neurexin family member CNTNAP2 is related to language but not communication skills in youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Arutiunian V, Santhosh M, Neuhaus E, Sullivan C, Bernier R, Bookheimer S, Dapretto M, Geschwind D, Jack A, McPartland J, Van Horn J, Pelphrey K, Gupta A, Webb S, Network T. A common genetic variant in the Neurexin family member CNTNAP2 is related to language but not communication skills in youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Research 2024 PMID: 38984666, DOI: 10.1002/aur.3193.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsAutism spectrum disorderLanguage skillsCommunication abilitySpectrum disorderStructural language abilityStructural language skillsLow language skillsCommunication skillsMeasures of languageContactin-associated protein-like 2 geneYouth aged 7Verbal communication skillsCELF-4G allele homozygotesLanguage abilityLanguage variablesNon-verbal individualsVerbal youthLanguageNeurexin familyVineland-IICandidate genesGenomic DNAGenetic mechanismsGenetic variantsTime is of the essence: Age at autism diagnosis, sex assigned at birth, and psychopathology.
Smith J, McQuaid G, Wallace G, Neuhaus E, Lopez A, Ratto A, Jack A, Khuu A, Webb S, Verbalis A, Pelphrey K, Kenworthy L. Time is of the essence: Age at autism diagnosis, sex assigned at birth, and psychopathology. Autism 2024, 13623613241249878. PMID: 38725306, DOI: 10.1177/13623613241249878.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsSymptoms of anxiety/depressionDepressive symptomsIdentification of autismCommunity-based sampleAnxious/depressed symptomsClinic-based sampleInclusionary criteriaAutism diagnosisAutismClinic-basedMental healthSymptomsAnxiety/depressionSex-basedPsychopathologyAnxietySexIndividualsMaleAge-based disparitiesFemalesBoys/menDiagnostic ageGirls/womenResearchThe relationship between gamma-band neural oscillations and language skills in youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their first-degree relatives
Arutiunian V, Santhosh M, Neuhaus E, Borland H, Tompkins C, Bernier R, Bookheimer S, Dapretto M, Gupta A, Jack A, Jeste S, McPartland J, Naples A, Van Horn J, Pelphrey K, Webb S. The relationship between gamma-band neural oscillations and language skills in youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their first-degree relatives. Molecular Autism 2024, 15: 19. PMID: 38711098, PMCID: PMC11075235, DOI: 10.1186/s13229-024-00598-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAutism spectrum disorderElevated gamma powerLow language skillsGamma powerResponses to speech stimuliLanguage skillsLanguage functionFirst-degree relativesSpectrum disorderClinical Evaluation of Language FundamentalsCo-occurring language impairmentSpeech stimuliCortical gamma-band oscillationsHigh gamma powerSex-balanced sampleGamma-band oscillationsSample of participantsNonverbal IQLanguage impairmentASD participantsTD controlsNeural profilesAutism phenotypeTD groupLanguage FundamentalsConduction velocity, G-ratio, and extracellular water as microstructural characteristics of autism spectrum disorder
Newman B, Jacokes Z, Venkadesh S, Webb S, Kleinhans N, McPartland J, Druzgal T, Pelphrey K, Van Horn J, Consortium F. Conduction velocity, G-ratio, and extracellular water as microstructural characteristics of autism spectrum disorder. PLOS ONE 2024, 19: e0301964. PMID: 38630783, PMCID: PMC11023574, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301964.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAutism spectrum disorderSocial Communication QuestionnaireSpectrum disorderCharacteristics of autism spectrum disorderAssociated with higher scoresEtiology of autism spectrum disorderMagnetic resonance imagingNeurotypical participantsWhite matter skeletonCommunication QuestionnaireBehavioral functionsFunctional connectivityT1w/T2w ratioNeuronal differencesStructural connectivityAdolescent participantsHigher scoresConduction velocityCortexExtracellular waterDisordersResonance imagingDiffusion MRI techniquesGender, assigned sex at birth, and gender diversity: Windows into diagnostic timing disparities in autism.
McQuaid G, Ratto A, Jack A, Khuu A, Smith J, Duane S, Clawson A, Lee N, Verbalis A, Pelphrey K, Kenworthy L, Wallace G, Strang J. Gender, assigned sex at birth, and gender diversity: Windows into diagnostic timing disparities in autism. Autism 2024, 13623613241243117. PMID: 38587289, DOI: 10.1177/13623613241243117.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsGender identityGender diversityGender diverse peopleGender diverse populationsAutism diagnosisReduce mental health risksFemale sexMental health problemsCisgender peopleClinic-based sampleMental health risksAutistic peopleAssociated with riskAutism diagnosis in adulthoodAssigned sexClinic-basedDiagnosis in adulthoodHealth problemsGenderAutistic sampleFemale genderIdentityAutismPeopleMale gender
2009
The Neural Development of an Abstract Concept of Number
Cantlon JF, Libertus ME, Pinel P, Dehaene S, Brannon EM, Pelphrey KA. The Neural Development of an Abstract Concept of Number. Journal Of Cognitive Neuroscience 2009, 21: 2217-2229. PMID: 19016605, PMCID: PMC2745480, DOI: 10.1162/jocn.2008.21159.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsBrain mechanismsYears of lifeFunctional magnetic resonance imagingMagnetic resonance imagingInferior frontal cortexCore neural systemsFrontal cortexParietal cortexResonance imagingBrain regionsPrimate neurophysiologyDifferent notation systemsYoung childrenNeural developmentAdultsLiterate adultsCortexChildrenNumerical tasksNeural systemsAbstract conceptsAdditional supportAdult recruitsGreater degreeNumerical representationBrain Regions for Perceiving and Reasoning About Other People in School‐Aged Children
Saxe RR, Whitfield‐Gabrieli S, Scholz J, Pelphrey KA. Brain Regions for Perceiving and Reasoning About Other People in School‐Aged Children. Child Development 2009, 80: 1197-1209. PMID: 19630902, DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01325.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsTemporo-parietal junctionPosterior superior temporal sulcusRight temporo-parietal junctionSuperior temporal sulcusMedial prefrontal cortexSchool-Aged ChildrenBiological motionTemporal sulcusCharacters' thoughtsPrefrontal cortexPeople's thoughtsMental factsPosterior cingulateBrain regionsCortical regionsYoung childrenOlder childrenSame storyThoughtPhysical contextResponse selectivityChildrenPeoplePerceivingCingulateAction Understanding in the Superior Temporal Sulcus Region
Vander Wyk BC, Hudac CM, Carter EJ, Sobel DM, Pelphrey KA. Action Understanding in the Superior Temporal Sulcus Region. Psychological Science 2009, 20: 771-777. PMID: 19422619, PMCID: PMC2849148, DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02359.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsMeSH KeywordsAdultAttentionBrain MappingChoice BehaviorColor PerceptionConcept FormationDominance, CerebralEmotionsFemaleHumansImage Processing, Computer-AssistedIntentionMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMotion PerceptionOxygenPattern Recognition, VisualPersonal Construct TheoryPsychomotor PerformanceSocial PerceptionTemporal LobeYoung AdultConceptsSuperior temporal sulcus regionEmotional expressionSTS regionPosterior superior temporal sulcus regionSulcus regionFunctional magnetic resonancePosterior STSAction understandingBiological motionEmotional contextNegative emotionsNegative regardPositive regardPerson's motionSocial actCongruentParticipantsIntentionEmotionsObjectsCongruencyPerceptionActionActressMagnetic resonance
2008
Developmental changes in category-specific brain responses to numbers and letters in a working memory task
Libertus ME, Brannon EM, Pelphrey KA. Developmental changes in category-specific brain responses to numbers and letters in a working memory task. NeuroImage 2008, 44: 1404-1414. PMID: 19027079, PMCID: PMC2659412, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.10.027.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCategory-specific activationFunctional magnetic resonance imagingWM taskMemory taskBehavioral performanceBrain activityBrain regionsCategory-specific dissociationsLateral fusiform gyrusOccipital-temporal cortexBrain activity patternsEight-year-old childrenFace stimuliWM conditionCognitive abilitiesSemantic processingLanguage abilityLetter conditionFMRI resultsFusiform gyrusAbstract processingIntraparietal sulcusBrain responsesDigit conditionLinguistic abilitiesPhysiology and functioning: Parents’ vagal tone, emotion socialization, and children’s emotion knowledge
Perlman SB, Camras LA, Pelphrey KA. Physiology and functioning: Parents’ vagal tone, emotion socialization, and children’s emotion knowledge. Journal Of Experimental Child Psychology 2008, 100: 308-315. PMID: 18486947, DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2008.03.007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsChildren's emotion knowledgeEmotion knowledgeSocialization behaviorsEmotion socialization behaviorsEmotional facial expressionsFamily emotional expressivenessVagal toneEmotion socializationEmotional expressivenessEmotional developmentCardiac vagal toneFacial expressionsSocialization variablesLaboratory sessionsParentsPhysiological regulationToneChildrenFunctioningBehaviorSocializationSessionsExpressivenessKnowledgeFindings
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
CBT for Anxiety in Children With Autism
HIC ID1211011144RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/30/2020Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge8 years - 14 years
Links & Media
News
- April 18, 2019
Behavioral disorders in kids with autism linked to reduced brain connectivity
- July 06, 2016Source: Spectrum
The Most Terrifying Childhood Condition You've Never Heard Of
- July 20, 2015
Making ‘miniature brains’ from skin cells to better understand autism
- March 12, 2015
Yale researchers making headway in quest to solve autism’s mysteries