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 Research Interests
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.
Research Interests
Research topics Kevin Pelphrey is interested in exploring.
James McPartland, PhD
Adam Naples, PhD
Brent Vander Wyk, PhD
Brian Pittman
Bruce E Wexler, MD
Godfrey Pearlson, MA, MBBS
Publications
2024
Unsupervised Dimensionality Reduction Techniques for the Assessment of ASD Biomarkers
Jacokes Z, Adoremos I, Hussain A, Newman B, Pelphrey K, Van Horn J. Unsupervised Dimensionality Reduction Techniques for the Assessment of ASD Biomarkers. 2024, 614-630. DOI: 10.1142/9789819807024_0044.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAutism spectrum disorderNeural basisDevelopmental disabilitiesCognitive traitsDiagnostic disparitiesSpectrum disorderNeuroimaging techniquesASD biomarkersSex differencesSocial functioningASD researchEffects of gene expressionNeuronal microstructureTailored interventionsBiological influencesGenetic interactionsGene expressionPhenotypic heterogeneityAutismCognitionPrincipal component analysisEarly‐ and Late‐Stage Auditory Processing of Speech Versus Non‐Speech Sounds in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: An ERP and Oscillatory Activity Study
Edgar E, McGuire K, Pelphrey K, Ventola P, van Noordt S, Crowley M. Early‐ and Late‐Stage Auditory Processing of Speech Versus Non‐Speech Sounds in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: An ERP and Oscillatory Activity Study. Developmental Psychobiology 2024, 66: e22552. PMID: 39508446, DOI: 10.1002/dev.22552.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAutism spectrum disorderNon-speech soundsSpeech soundsTD childrenSpectrum disorderCortical activityResponses to speech soundsProcessing stagesSensitivity to speechAtypical auditory processingTheta phase coherenceAuditory speech processingP3a amplitudeAuditory speechIntra-individual variabilityDevelopment of cortical networksASD childrenCortical networksSpeech processingAuditory processingElectroencephalography sessionLanguage processingCortical responsesAutismSpeechDisentangling negative and positive symptoms in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder
Corbera S, Wexler B, Bell M, Pittman B, Pelphrey K, Pearlson G, Assaf M. Disentangling negative and positive symptoms in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. Schizophrenia Research 2024, 271: 1-8. PMID: 39002525, PMCID: PMC11384336, DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.07.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsAutism spectrum disorderPositive and Negative Syndrome ScaleAutism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-GenericExperiential negative symptomsPositive symptomsNegative symptomsExploratory factor analysisSpectrum disorderNegative Syndrome ScaleTarget negative symptomsSyndrome ScaleDiscriminant function analysisSZ relativesAssociated with quality of lifeSchizophreniaSocial skillsSocial functioningDiagnostic classificationAutismFactor analysisAssociated with qualityPredictor of diagnosisSymptomsDisordersQuality of lifeA 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 ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsAutism 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, 28: 2909-2922. PMID: 38725306, PMCID: PMC11496012, DOI: 10.1177/13623613241249878.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsSymptoms 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, 28: 2806-2820. PMID: 38587289, PMCID: PMC11458814, 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 selectivityChildrenPeoplePerceivingCingulate
News
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