Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 2:00 pm EDT
Children learn about the social world by tuning in to the voices of parents, caregivers, teachers, and friends. Dr. Abrams' research explores why some children with autism may be less responsive to speech and how brain systems for hearing and motivation may not work together in typical ways. By understanding these brain differences, he aims to develop more targeted and effective interventions that strengthen communication and social connection.
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Presented by
Clinical Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Director of the Speech and Social Neuroscience Lab
2018 Young Investigator Grant
Dr. Abrams is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University where he conducts research investigating the brain bases of social communication impairments in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Dr. Abrams research focuses on understanding why children with ASD often "tune out" from the social world around them and how this impacts social and brain development. His research employs a combination of psychophysical, cognitive, and brain imaging techniques, with the goal of identifying key neural features underlying social deficits in children with ASD.
Dr. Abrams received his undergraduate degree from University of Arizona followed by a period in industry as an acoustical engineer in the San Francisco Bay Area. He subsequently completed his graduate degree from Northwestern University and joined the Stanford University community as a postdoctoral researcher in 2008. Dr. Abrams joined the Stanford faculty in 2014 and was promoted to Clinical Assistant Professor in 2018 and Clinical Associate Professor in 2021.
Dr. Abrams’s research program has been supported by multiple funding agencies including the NIH, NARSAD, and the National Organization for Hearing Research Foundation.
Dr. Abrams lives in the Bay Area with his wife, children, and gifted Labrador retriever, Meatball.
Moderated by
Brain & Behavior Research Foundation
Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D., serves as the President & CEO of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, the largest private funder of mental health research grants. Dr. Borenstein developed the Emmy-nominated public television program “Healthy Minds,” and serves as host and executive producer of the series. The program, broadcast nationwide, is available online, and focuses on topics in psychiatry in order to educate the public, reduce stigma and offer a message of hope. Dr. Borenstein served as Editor-in-Chief of Psychiatric News, the newspaper of the American Psychiatric Association from 2012 - 2023.
Dr. Borenstein is a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine and serves as the Chair of the Section of Psychiatry at the Academy. He also has served as the President of the New York State Psychiatric Association. Dr. Borenstein earned his undergraduate degree at Harvard and his medical degree at New York University.
