Rhiannon Luyster, Emerson College

Dr. Luyster is a developmental psychologist whose program of research focuses on autism. She has a longstanding interest in early social communication and language in autism, and she is an author on the Toddler Module of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - 2nd edition (ADOS-2). Her work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, American Philosophical Society, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, Organization for Autism Research, and Emerson College. Dr. Luyster has published her work in several peer-reviewed journals, including Developmental Psychology, Development & Psychopathology, Journal of Child Language, Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, Autism Research, and Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Dr. Luyster offers graduate courses on research methods and autism, as well as an undergraduate course on developmental psychology. Her research activities are open to Emerson students interested in learning more about clinical research with young children.

Dr. Luyster was the recipient of the Emerson College Alumni Award for Teaching Innovation in 2016. She was awarded a Huret Faculty Excellence Award in 2021 and a Norman and Irma Mann Stearns Award in 2023.

About

Department Communication Sciences & Disorders
Since 2012

Education

B.A., Wesleyan University
M.Ed., Boston College
Ph.D., University of Michigan

Areas of Expertise

Autism
Communication Disorders

Publications

Arunachalam, S., Steele, A., Buonocore, T., Pelletier, T. & Luyster, R. (2024). Do focused interests support word learning? A study in autistic and nonautistic children. Autism Research, epub.

2024

Luyster, R., Leiwant, I.*, & Arunachalam, S. (2023). Frequency, form and function of dyadic questions in ASD. Communication Disorders Quarterly, 44(3), 163-172.

2023

He, A., Luyster, R., & Arunachalam, S. (2022). Parental tuning of language input to autistic and nonspectrum children. Frontiers in Psychology (Developmental Psychology section), epub.

2022

Luyster, R., Zane, E., & Wisman Weil., L. (2022). Conventions for Unconventional Language: Revisiting a framework for spoken language features in autism. Autism and Developmental Language Impairments, epub.

2022

Lin, K.*, Wisman Weil, L., Thurm, A., Lord, C., & Luyster, R. (2022). Word imageability predicts expressive vocabulary in children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism and Developmental Language Impairments, epub.

2022

Arunachalam, S., Artis, J., & Luyster, R. (2021). Moving beyond binaries: Appreciating the complexities of autism and language learning. Language, 97(3), e161-168.

2021

Zane, E., Arunachalam, S. & Luyster, R. (2021). Personal Pronoun Errors in Form versus Meaning Produced by Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Cultural Cognitive Science, 5, 389-404.

2021

Arunachalam, S., Avtushka, V., Luyster, R., & Guthrie, W. (2021). Consistency and inconsistency in caregiver reporting of vocabulary. Language Learning and Development, 18(1), 81-96.

2021

LeGrand, K.*, Wisman Weil, L., Lord, C., & Luyster, R. (2021). Identifying childhood expressive language features that best predict adult language and communication outcome in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Journal of Speech, Languag

2021

Souter, N.*, Arunachalam, S., Luyster, R. (2020). The robustness of eye-mouth index as an eye-tracking metric of social attention in toddlers. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 44(5), 469-478.

2020

Luyster, R., Bick, J., Westerlund, A., & Nelson, C.A. (2019). Testing the effects of expression, intensity and age on emotional face processing in ASD. Neuropsychologia, 126, 128-137.

2019

Arunachalam, S., & Luyster, R. (2018). Lexical development in young children with ASD: How ASD affects intake from the input. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, 61(11), 2659-2672.

2018

Luyster, R., Arunachalam, S. (2018). Learning language through overhearing in children with ASD. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. ePub.

2018

Xiaoxue He, A., Luyster, R., Hong, S., & Arunachalam, S. (2018). Personal pronoun usage in maternal input to infants at high- vs. low-risk for autism spectrum disorder. First Language, 38(5), 520-527.

2018

Wagner, J.B., Luyster, R., Moustapha, H., et al. (2018). Differential attention to faces in infant siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder and associations with later social and language ability. International Journal of Behavioral Development

2018

Luyster, R. (2018). Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – Toddler Module (ADOS-T). In F. Volkmar (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. New York: Springer Publishing.

2018

Young, A.*, Luyster, R., Fox, N., Zeanah, C. & Nelson, C.A. (2017). The effects of institutionalization on emotional face processing: Evidence for sparing via an experience-dependent mechanism. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 35(3), 439-453.

2017

Bick, J., Luyster, R., Fox, N., Zeanah, C., & Nelson, C. (2017). Effects of early institutionalization on emotion processing in 12-year-old youth. Development and Psychopathology, 29(5), 1749-1761.

2017

Wagner, J.B., Luyster, R., Tager-Flusberg, H., & Nelson, C.A. (2016). Greater pupil size in response to emotional faces as an early marker of social-communicative difficulties in infants at high risk for autism. Infancy, 21, 560-581.

2016

Arunachalam, S. & Luyster, R. (2016). The integrity of lexical acquisition mechanisms in autism spectrum disorders: A research review. Autism Research, 9, 810-828.

2016

Grzadzinski, R., Luyster, R., Spencer, A., & Lord, C. (2014). Attachment in young children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism: International Journal of Research and Practice, 18(2), 85-96.

2014

Wagner, J.B., Luyster, R., Yim, J-Y., Tager-Flusberg, H., & Nelson, C.A. (2013). The role of early visual attention in social development. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 37(2), 118-124.

2013

Luyster, R., Seery, A., Talbott, M., & Tager-Flusberg, H. (2013). Identifying early risk markers and developmental trajectories for language impairment in neurodevelopmental disorders. Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 17(2), 151-159.

2013

Luyster, R., Powell, C., Tager-Flusberg, H., & Nelson, C. (2013). Neural measures of social attention across the first years of life: Characterizing typical development and markers of autism risk. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience [epub].

2013

Lord, C., et al. (2012). A multi-site study of the clinical diagnosis of different autism spectrum disorders. Archives of General Psychiatry, 69(3), 306-313.

2012

Lord, C., Luyster, R., Guthrie, W., & Pickles, A. (2012). Patterns of developmental trajectories in toddlers with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 80(3), 477-489.

2012

Wall, D., Dally, R., Jung, J-Y., DeLuca, T., & Luyster, R. (2012). Use of artificial intelligence to shorten the behavioral diagnosis of autism. PLoS ONE, 7(8), e43855

2012

Lord, C., Luyster, R., Gotham, K., Guthrie. (2012). Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) Manual (Part II): Toddler Module. Torrance, CA: Western Psychological Services.

2012

Luyster, R., Wagner, J.B., Vogel-Farley, V., Tager-Flusberg, H., & Nelson, C.A. (2011). Neural correlates of familiar and unfamiliar face processing in infants at risk for autism. Brain Topography, 24(3), 220-228.

2011

Tager-Flusberg, H., Edelson, L. & Luyster, R. (2011). Language and communication in autism spectrum disorders. Autism Spectrum Disorders (Vol. I: Clinical Features and Models – Core Features and Clinical Course). New York: Oxford University Press.

2011

Luyster, R., et al. (2011). The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) in extremely low gestational age newborns: Individual items associated with motor, cognitive, vision and hearing limitations. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 25(4),

2011

Luyster, R. & Lord, C. (2009). Word learning in children with autism spectrum disorders. Developmental Psychology, 45(6), 1774-86.

2009

Luyster, R., et al. (2009). The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule -- Toddler Module: A new module of a standardized diagnostic measure for ASD. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 39(9), 1305-1320.

2009

Luyster, R., & Lord, C. (2009). The language of children with autism. In E. Bavin (Ed.), The Cambridge Handbook of Child Language. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.

2009

Bishop, S., Luyster, R., Richler, J., & Lord, C. (2008). Diagnostic assessment. In K. Chawarska, A. Klin & F. Volkmar (Eds.), Autism Spectrum Disorders in Infants and Toddlers: Diagnosis, assessment and treatment. New York: Guilford Publications.

2008

Luyster, R., Kadlec, M. B., Carter, A., & Tager-Flusberg, H. (2008). Language assessment and development in toddlers with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 38(8), 1426-1438.

2008

Luyster, R., Lopez, K., & Lord, C. (2007). Characterizing communicative development in children referred for autism spectrum disorder using the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory (CDI). Journal of Child Language, 34(3), 623-654.

2007

Luyster, R., Qiu, S., Lopez, K., & Lord, C. (2007). Predicting outcomes of children referred for autism using the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory (CDI). Journal of Speech, Language & Hearing Research, 50, 667-681.

2007

Richler, J., Luyster, R., Risi, S., et al. (2006). Is there a regressive "phenotype" of autism spectrum disorder associated with the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine? A CPEA study. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 36(3), 299-316.

2006

Lord, C., & Luyster, R. (2006). Early diagnosis of children with autism spectrum disorders. Clinical Neuroscience Research, 6, 189-194.

2006

Luyster, R., Richler, J., Risi, S., Hsu, W.-L., Dawson, G., Bernier, R., et al. (2005). Early regression in social communication in autistic spectrum disorders: A CPEA study. Developmental Neuropsychology, 27(3), 311-336.

2005

Lord, C., & Luyster, R. (2005). Early diagnosis and screening of autism spectrum disorders, Medscape Psychiatry & Mental Health: Medscape (Online Resource).

2005

Fitch, A.*, Lieberman, A., Luyster, R., & Arunachalam, S. (2020). Toddlers’ word learning through overhearing: Others’ attention matters. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 193, epub.

2020

Grants

“What’s a chinchilla? Question asking in children with ASD.” Emerson College, Faculty Advancement Fund Grant. Role: PI.

2019

“Transcription and Analysis of Unconventional Language in Autism Spectrum Disorder.” Franklin Research Grant, American Philosophical Society. Role: PI.

2018

“Little children with big ears? Overhearing and language learning in children with ASD.” Emerson College, Faculty Advancement Fund Grant. Role: PI.

2016

Advancing Academic-Research Careers Award. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Role: PI.

2015

“MRI: Acquisition of an Infrared Eye Tracker to Study the Emergence, Use, Loss and Reacquisition of Communication Skills.” National Science Foundation. Role: PI.

2013

“Development of a new autism screening tool for traditionally underserved families.” NJ Governor's Council for Research and Treatment of Autism. Role: Consultant.

2013

“Laboratory experience using SMI eye trackers to study child development.” Marion & Jasper Whiting Foundation. Role: PI.

2013

“Equipping a child research laboratory.” Emerson College, Faculty Advancement Fund Grant. Role: PI.

2013

“Behavioral and neural responses to emotional faces in individuals with ASD.” Brain and Behavior Research Fund, NARSAD Young Investigator Award. Role: PI.

2011

“Word learning in children with autism spectrum disorder.” National Institute of Mental Health, National Research Service Award. Role: PI.

2005

Awards & Honors

Mentor, American Speech-Language Hearing Association Research-Pair Mentoring Award.

2017

Recipient, Emerson College Alumni Award for Teaching Innovation.

2016

Attendee, Lessons for Success, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

2015

Member, Harvard College Neurobiology Board of Tutors

2011

International Meeting for Autism Research Young Investigator Award, First Runner-Up

2010

National Institutes of Health, Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program

2009

Organization for Autism Research, Graduate Research Grant

2007

Dissertation Grant, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan

2007

Rackham Graduate Student Research Grant, University of Michigan

2006

Regent’s Fellowship (for academic excellence), University of Michigan

2002

Thorndike Prize (for excellence in Psychology), Wesleyan University

2000