Hiroko Norimatsu

Hiroko Norimatsu is a Senior Lecturer in Developmental Psychology at the Department of Psychology, University of Toulouse Jean Jaurès. She is affiliated with the "Language & Cognitive Processes" research team at the CLLE Laboratory (Cognition, Languages, Ergonomics), UMR 5263, where she conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of developmental psychology, cognitive science, and cross-cultural studies.

Dr. Norimatsu's primary research interests focus on three interconnected areas: (1) the development of socio-cognitive skills in young children, particularly Theory of Mind in both typically developing children and those with Autism Spectrum Disorder; (2) socio-cultural factors influencing parental decision-making regarding infant feeding practices and weaning across different cultural contexts; and (3) child accident prevention through understanding risk perception in early development. Her work employs comparative methodologies, frequently examining differences between Japanese, French, and American cultural contexts.

Analysis of Dr. Norimatsu's recent publication record reveals a consistent trajectory of research exploring the relationship between Theory of Mind development and various social-cognitive abilities in early childhood. Her work has increasingly focused on humor development as an indicator of socio-cognitive understanding, with several recent studies examining how typically developing children and those with ASD understand and produce humor. This represents an evolution from her earlier work on basic Theory of Mind development to more complex social-cognitive phenomena. Her cross-cultural approach remains a consistent methodological strength across her publication history.

Dr. Norimatsu has secured research funding from prestigious sources including the Japanese Ministry of Education and KAKEN-JSPS (grant number 23653192, April 2011-March 2015), which supported comparative research on infant feeding practices. Her collaborative approach is evident in her extensive co-authorship network spanning multiple countries and disciplinary perspectives.

As a member of the "Language & Cognitive Processes" team at CLLE Laboratory, Dr. Norimatsu contributes to a vibrant research environment that bridges cognitive science, linguistics, and developmental psychology. Her ongoing projects suggest future research directions will continue to explore the intersection of cultural context, cognitive development, and social understanding in early childhood, with particular attention to applications for children with developmental differences.