Helena Rutherford, PhD

Associate Professor in the Child Study Center

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Appointments

Child Study Center

Primary

Department of Psychology

Secondary

Contact Info

helena.rutherford@yale.edu

About

Titles

Associate Professor in the Child Study Center

Appointments

Child Study Center
Associate Professor Tenure
Primary
Child Study Center
Department of Psychology
Associate Professor Tenure
Secondary
Department of Psychology

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

Overview

Individual differences in the neural correlates of infant cue perception

Maternal distress tolerance and stress reactivity

Emotion regulation in parents and non-parents

ORCID
0000-0001-8680-1535

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Helena Rutherford's published research.

Linda Mayes, MD
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View 16 Common Publications
Kathryn M Wall Funaro, MS, MA
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View 9 Common Publications
Amanda Lowell, PhD
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View 8 Common Publications
Francesca Penner, PhD
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View 8 Common Publications
Marc Potenza, PhD, MD
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View 8 Common Publications
Michael Crowley, PhD
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View 4 Common Publications

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 Research
Investigating 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 Research
Santé 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 Research
Associations 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 Research
MeSH Keywords
Operationalizing 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 Statements

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 Research
Maternal 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 Statements
Mentalizing 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 Research
Racial 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 Research
A 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 Research
MeSH Keywords

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Clinical Trials

Current Trials

The Baby School Recruitment and Education Initiative
IRB ID2000022110RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2027
Recruiting Participants
Children's Health

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

Activities

activity
F1000
2011 - PresentCommitteesAssociate Professor
activity
Ongoing
2011 - PresentPeer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsReviewer
Details
activity
Association for Psychological Science
2008 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsMember
activity
Vision Sciences Society
2005 - 2009Professional OrganizationsMember

News & Links

News

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Related Links
- The Before and After Baby Lab

Get In Touch

Contacts

helena.rutherford@yale.edu

Events

Jan 202721Thursday

Yale Only
9:15 AM4:30 PM
Speakers to be announced.
Yale Child Study Center Research Festival
Save the date!
Neison Irving Harris Building
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Appointments

Contact Info

Titles

Appointments

Child Study Center

Department of Psychology

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

Overview

ORCID

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Linda Mayes, MD

Kathryn M Wall Funaro, MS, MA

Amanda Lowell, PhD

Francesca Penner, PhD

Marc Potenza, PhD, MD

Michael Crowley, PhD

Publications

2026

2025

Clinical Trials

Current Trials

Activities

F1000

Ongoing

Association for Psychological Science

Vision Sciences Society

News

Becoming a Parent is a Developmental Process

Yale Child Study Center Recognizes Spring 2026 Award Recipients and Retirees

Yale Developmental Science Internship Welcomes Visiting Undergrad Interns for Summer 2026

Rutherford and Omay to Lead Study of Oxytocin’s Effects on Surgery Patients

Related Links

Contacts

Events

Yale Child Study Center Research Festival