Susan Bookheimer

Susan Bookheimer is a distinguished Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. She holds the Joaquin Fuster Professorship in Cognitive Neuroscience and is affiliated with multiple research centers including the Center for Autism Research and Treatment (CART), Staglin Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Tennenbaum Center for the Biology of Creativity, and Brain Research Institute.

Dr. Bookheimer's research spans cognitive neuroscience with a focus on autism spectrum disorder, functional MRI methodology, language processing, memory function, and sensory processing differences. Her work investigates neural mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism, using advanced neuroimaging techniques to identify early biomarkers and understand neural connectivity patterns. She has made significant contributions to understanding how brain networks develop and function in typically developing children and those at risk for autism.

Her extensive publication record demonstrates expertise in functional MRI applications across diverse populations including infants at risk for autism, individuals with epilepsy, and aging adults. Her research often examines how brain connectivity relates to cognitive and behavioral outcomes, with particular attention to language processing, sensory reactivity, and social cognition in neurodevelopmental conditions.

Dr. Bookheimer leads and participates in numerous collaborative research initiatives including the ACE GENDAAR Network and has contributed to understanding the neural basis of autism through genetic, imaging, and behavioral approaches. Her work bridges basic neuroscience with clinical applications, aiming to improve diagnostic approaches and interventions for neurodevelopmental disorders.