Pierre Largy

Pierre Largy is a Professor of Developmental Psychology at Toulouse Jean Jaurès University, affiliated with the NeuroPsychoLinguistics Laboratory (LNPL). He teaches in the UFR of Psychology and UFR SES, and has also taught at ESPE Midi-Pyrénées, the University of Geneva (Switzerland), and the University of Social and Human Sciences of Hanoi (Vietnam). His research focuses on cognitive development, language acquisition, and learning processes, particularly in written language.

His research interests center on how children and students acquire written language skills, especially spelling and grammar, and the cognitive mechanisms underlying learning difficulties such as dyslexia. He investigates the interplay between orthography, reading, and writing, and has expanded his work to include digital writing (e.g., SMS and instant messaging), exploring how these forms reflect or affect linguistic competence. More recently, he has studied the impact of emotion on orthographic performance, using methods such as emotional induction via music or color. His experimental approaches include chronometric analysis, dual-task paradigms, and corpus studies, focusing on behavioral indicators like error types, reaction times, and emotional responses.

The trends in his recent publications reveal a consistent focus on spelling acquisition, the cognitive load in writing, emotional influences on performance, and the linguistic characteristics of digital communication. His work bridges developmental psychology, psycholinguistics, and educational research, with a strong emphasis on empirical methods and real-world applications.

Among his scientific contributions, he has organized major conferences such as “Written language disorders: from childhood to adulthood” (2012) and “Written language disorders in children: from theory to practice” (2008), and has served as an expert for the European Commission and research agencies in Quebec. He has reviewed for journals including l'Année Psychologique, British Journal of Educational Psychology, and Language and Cognitive Processes.

Largy has supervised several doctoral students, including Lucille Soulier and Aurélie Simoës-Perlant. He has held significant administrative roles, including Director of the UFR of Psychology, Director of the Department of Developmental Psychology, and member of the University's Board of Directors. His research has been supported through collaborations and institutional responsibilities, though specific grants are not detailed in the text. He leads a research team within the LNPL laboratory, focusing on written language development and disorders.

He is actively involved in research teams and laboratories, particularly the NeuroPsychoLinguistics Laboratory (LNPL), where he conducts experimental studies on writing, reading, and cognitive development. His ongoing work includes exploring emotional effects on learning and the evolving nature of written language in digital contexts.