Daiki Hiraoka, PhD

Research 

Investigating the Psychology and Neuroscience of Caregiving. 

My research focuses on the mechanisms and factors of emotions and stress during pregnancy and parenting, using an interdisciplinary approach that integrates neuroimaging, neuroendocrinology, and longitudinal data modeling. 

• Response to Infant Crying: Investigating why infant crying, while essential for survival, can trigger stress or even abusive behavior. I examine the role of cognitive resources in modulating empathy and physiological responses.

• Interdisciplinary Methodology: Utilizing diverse tools including fMRI, neuroendocrinology, and complex longitudinal modeling to capture the dynamic nature of parenting .

• Biological Foundations: Expanding into the epigenetic and environmental factors (e.g., PFAS exposure) that influence child development and parental well-being.