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Hamilton LJ, Krendl AC. Evidence for the role of affective theory of mind in face-name associative memory. NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENT, AND COGNITION. SECTION B, AGING, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2024; 31:417-437. [PMID: 36999681 PMCID: PMC10544671 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2023.2194607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
Poor face-name recall has been associated with age-related impairments in cognitive functioning, namely declines in episodic memory and executive control. However, the role of social cognitive function - the ability to remember, process, and store information about others - has been largely overlooked in this work. Extensive work has shown that social and nonsocial cognitive processes rely on unique, albeit overlapping, mechanisms. In the current study, we explored whether social cognitive functioning - specifically the ability to infer other people's mental states (i.e., theory of mind) - facilitates better face-name learning. To do this, a sample of 289 older and young adults completed a face-name learning paradigm along with standard assessments of episodic memory and executive control alongside two theory of mind measures, one static and one dynamic. In addition to expected age differences, several key effects emerged. Age-related differences in recognition were explained by episodic memory, not social cognition. However, age effects in recall were explained by both episodic memory and social cognition, specifically affective theory of mind in the dynamic task. Altogether, we contend that face-name recall can be supported by social cognitive functioning, namely understanding emotions. While acknowledging the influence of task characteristics (i.e., lures, target ages), we interpret these findings in light of existing accounts of age differences in face-name associative memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas J Hamilton
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Anne C Krendl
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
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Yan ZX, He Z, Jiang LH, Zou X. Age-related trajectories of the development of social cognition. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1348781. [PMID: 38711752 PMCID: PMC11071648 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1348781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Age-related trajectories of intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC), which represent the interconnections between discrete regions of the human brain, for processes related to social cognition (SC) provide evidence for social development through neural imaging and can guide clinical interventions when such development is atypical. However, due to the lack of studies investigating brain development over a wide range of ages, the neural mechanisms of SC remain poorly understood, although considerable behavior-related evidence is available. The present study mapped vortex-wise iFC features between SC networks and the entire cerebral cortex by using common functional networks, creating the corresponding age-related trajectories. Three networks [moral cognition, theory of mind (ToM), and empathy] were selected as representative SC networks. The Enhanced Nathan Kline Institute-Rockland Sample (NKI-RS, N = 316, ages 8-83 years old) was employed delineate iFC characteristics and construct trajectories. The results showed that the SC networks display unique and overlapping iFC profiles. The iFC of the empathy network, an age-sensitive network, with dorsal attention network was found to exhibit a linear increasing pattern, that of the ventral attention network was observed to exhibit a linear decreasing pattern, and that of the somatomotor and dorsal attention networks was noted to exhibit a quadric-concave iFC pattern. Additionally, a sex-specific effect was observed for the empathy network as it exhibits linear and quadric sex-based differences in iFC with the frontoparietal and vision networks, respectively. The iFC of the ToM network with the ventral attention network exhibits a pronounced quadric-convex (inverted U-shape) trajectory. No linear or quadratic trajectories were noted in the iFC of the moral cognition network. These findings indicate that SC networks exhibit iFC with both low-level (somatomotor, vision) and high-level (attention and control) networks along specific developmental trajectories. The age-related trajectories determined in this study advance our understanding of the neural mechanisms of SC, providing valuable references for identification and intervention in cases of development of atypical SC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Xiong Yan
- Guangxi Center of Developmental Population Neuroscience, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, China
| | - Zhe He
- Guangxi Center of Developmental Population Neuroscience, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, China
| | - Ling-Hui Jiang
- Guangxi Center of Developmental Population Neuroscience, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, China
| | - Xia Zou
- Continuing Education School, Guangxi College for Preschool Education, Nanning, China
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Krendl AC, Hugenberg K, Kennedy DP. Comparing data quality from an online and in-person lab sample on dynamic theory of mind tasks. Behav Res Methods 2024; 56:2353-2375. [PMID: 37322311 PMCID: PMC11061881 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-023-02152-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Nearly half the published research in psychology is conducted with online samples, but the preponderance of these studies rely primarily on self-report measures. The current study validated data quality from an online sample on a novel, dynamic task by comparing performance between an in-lab and online sample on two dynamic measures of theory of mind-the ability to infer others' mental states. Theory of mind is a cognitively complex construct that has been widely studied across multiple domains of psychology. One task was based on the show The Office®, and has been previously validated by the authors with in-lab samples. The second was a novel task based on the show Nathan for You®, which was selected to account for familiarity effects associated with The Office. Both tasks measured various dimensions of theory of mind (inferring beliefs, understanding motivations, detecting deception, identifying faux pas, and understanding emotions). The in-person lab samples (N = 144 and 177, respectively) completed the tasks between-subject, whereas the online sample (N = 347 from Prolific Academic) completed them within-subject, with order counterbalanced. The online sample's performance across both tasks was reliable (Cronbach's α = .66). For The Office, the in-person sample outperformed the online sample on some types of theory of mind, but this was driven by their greater familiarity with the show. Indeed, for the relatively unfamiliar show Nathan for You, performance did not differ between the two samples. Together, these results suggest that crowdsourcing platforms elicit reliable performance on novel, dynamic, complex tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne C. Krendl
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, 1101 E. 10th St., Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Kurt Hugenberg
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, 1101 E. 10th St., Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Daniel P. Kennedy
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, 1101 E. 10th St., Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
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Weissberger GH, Bergman YS. Reflective Functioning and Financial Exploitation Vulnerability in Older Adults: The Importance of Significant Others. Clin Gerontol 2024:1-10. [PMID: 38389427 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2024.2320921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Financial exploitation of older adults results in devastating economic, social, and psychological losses to older adults, their families, and society at large. This study examined the relationship between reflective functioning and financial exploitation vulnerability (FEV) and whether relationship status moderated the association. METHODS A community-based sample of 156 Israeli older adults age 60 and over responded to demographic questions and questionnaires assessing reflective functioning and FEV. RESULTS A hierarchical linear regression analysis covarying for age, sex, education, income, and sum of illnesses, revealed that higher reflective functioning was associated with lower FEV (p = .011). A main effect of relationship status was not found, but a significant interaction of reflective functioning × relationship status was discovered (p = .008), adding 4.2% to the total variance of the model. Probing the interaction revealed that the reflective functioning-FEV association was significant only for older adults not in a relationship. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that low reflective functioning may be associated with increased risk of financial exploitation, specifically in certain populations of older adults. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Care providers of older adults may consider assessing for, and identifying older adults with low reflective functioning, in order to prevent or intervene in the event of a potentially exploitative situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gali H Weissberger
- Department of Social and Health Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Yoav S Bergman
- Faculty of Social Work, Ashkelon Academic College, Ashkelon, Israel
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Stutesman MG, Frye DA. Affective Theory of Mind in Late Adulthood: The Role of Emotion Complexity and Social Relatedness. Exp Aging Res 2023; 49:472-500. [PMID: 36284488 DOI: 10.1080/0361073x.2022.2137359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Age-related declines in adult affective theory of mind (AToM) have been discovered. However, AToM measures have not accounted for emotional state complexity involved in AToM. Measures have also not accounted for different types of relationships - friends versus strangers - for which AToM is employed, which is important considering the limited social networks of aging adults. OBJECTIVE We address these issues and examine the emotion complexity, social-relatedness, and contextual relevance in AToM across adult ages (18-89 years) using a new task and two well-established measures. RESULTS The new task displayed good structural fit and internal construct validity. Overall, an age-related decline in AToM was found along with an interaction between age and emotion complexity. For all ages, AToM performance was best for complex emotions. However, as age increased, there was more rapid decline in AToM for more complex emotions than for less complex ones. Surprisingly, AToM performance for strangers was better than for social companions. CONCLUSION The findings suggest age-related AToM declines are more nuanced than previously understood given that adult age differences are related to emotional state complexity. They indicate that the emotion complexity levels of basic, complex, and self-conscious should be included in AToM assessments. Implications for AToM tasks and development are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan G Stutesman
- Department of Psychology, 3F5, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030, USA
| | - Douglas A Frye
- Department of Psychology, 3F5, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030, USA
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Langenbach BP, Koelkebeck K, Knoch D. Mentalising and depression: a mini-review on behavior, neural substrates, and treatment options. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1116306. [PMID: 37398589 PMCID: PMC10308027 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1116306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Major depression is one of the most common mental disorders, affecting millions of people around the globe. In recent years, researchers increasingly investigated social cognition in depression and discovered pronounced alterations. A special focus has been put on mentalising or Theory of Mind, the ability to recognize and understand another person's thoughts and feelings. While there is behavioral evidence for deficits in this ability in patients with depression as well as specialized therapeutic interventions, the neuroscientific substrates are only beginning to be understood. In this mini-review, we take a social neuroscience perspective to analyse the importance of altered mentalising in depression and whether it can help to understand the origins and perpetuation of the disorder. We will put a special focus on treatment options and corresponding neural changes to identify relevant paths for future (neuroscientific) research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt P. Langenbach
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, LVR University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Katja Koelkebeck
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, LVR University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Daria Knoch
- Department of Social Neuroscience and Social Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Krendl AC, Mannering W, Jones MN, Hugenberg K, Kennedy DP. Determining Whether Older Adults Use Similar Strategies to Young Adults in Theory of Mind Tasks. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2023; 78:969-976. [PMID: 36469431 PMCID: PMC10214651 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbac187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Theory of mind-the ability to infer others' mental states-declines over the life span, potentially due to cognitive decline. However, it is unclear whether deficits emerge because older adults use the same strategies as young adults, albeit less effectively, or use different or no strategies. The current study compared the similarity of older adults' theory of mind errors to young adults' and a random model. METHODS One hundred twenty older adults (MAge = 74.68 years; 64 female) and 111 young adults (MAge = 19.1; 61 female) completed a novel theory of mind task (clips from an episode of the sitcom The Office®), and a standard measure of cognitive function (Logical Memory II). Monte Carlo resampling estimated the likelihood that older adults' error patterns were more similar to young adults' or a random distribution. RESULTS Age deficits emerged on the theory of mind task. Poorer performance was associated with less similarity to young adults' response patterns. Overall, older adults' response patterns were ~2.7 million times more likely to match young adults' than a random model. Critically, one fourth of older adults' errors were more similar to the random distribution. Poorer memory ability contributed to this relationship. DISCUSSION Age deficits in theory of mind performance may be driven by a subset of older adults and be related to disparities in strategy use. A certain amount of cognitive ability may be necessary for older adults to engage similar strategies to young adults' during theory of mind.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne C Krendl
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Willa Mannering
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Michael N Jones
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Kurt Hugenberg
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Daniel P Kennedy
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
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Isernia S, Rossetto F, Shamay-Tsoory S, Marchetti A, Baglio F. Standardization and normative data of the 48-item Yoni short version for the assessment of theory of mind in typical and atypical conditions. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 14:1048599. [PMID: 36711213 PMCID: PMC9877508 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1048599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The Yoni task is a computerized tool assessing first-and second-order affective and cognitive Theory of Mind (ToM), accounting for the multidimensional and multi-level mentalizing features. The Italian Yoni task has been validated and standardized in its 98-item version, and a 48-item short version has been proposed for a quick digital evaluation of ToM in clinical contexts. Methods The present study aimed to test the Yoni-48's convergent validity, correlating the tool score with the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test (ET) and Gender Test (GT), its items discrimination ability through the Classical Test Theory, and Rash model, its reliability by evaluating the internal consistency (McDonald's ω, Cronbach's α, Guttman's λ 2, and Guttman's λ 6) and Spearman-Brown ϱSP split-half analysis, and to provide standardization and normative data in the Italian population. Results Results suggested a good convergent validity with a statistically significant association with ET (p < 0.001), while a null correlation was observed with GT (p = 0.947). The Classical Test Theory and Rash model confirmed a good discrimination ability of the Yoni-48's second-order affective and cognitive ToM items, while weaker discrimination capacity was registered for the first-order ToM items. The inter-item reliability was optimal for clinical purposes (ω, α, λ 2, λ 6 ≥ 0.90). Also, the split-half reliability was high (Spearman-Brown ϱSP = 0.90). For standardization, age and education were revealed as significant predictors of Yoni accuracy scores, except for the first-order ToM score. Instead, age was the only predictor of Yoni's response speed score. The Italian normative data showed a high Yoni accuracy in healthy adults (mean accuracy = 0.85) and speed (mean response time = 0.92). Finally, both accuracy and response time level was balanced between the affective and cognitive components of ToM. Discussion This study supports the psychometric properties of the Yoni-48 and provides normative data for the Italian population. Further studies are needed to test the suitability of this short version for profiling the social cognition neurocognitive phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Isernia
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Rossetto
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, Milan, Italy,*Correspondence: Federica Rossetto,
| | | | - Antonella Marchetti
- Research Unit on Theory of Mind, Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
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Gigi A, Papirovitz M. Theory of mind in older adults: the nature of the decline. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2022:1-6. [PMID: 36458438 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2022.2150973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Successful social interaction depends (among others) on one's ability to understand other people's emotional states (known as "affective-Theory-of-Mind"; aToM). A decline in this ability could be associated with changes in awareness with age. Awareness can be estimated by comparing one's subjective and objective abilities. Here we explored the sequence of changes in aToM with age, with reference to objective and subjective capacities. One hundred and eight participants were divided into three age groups: young (18-39), adults (60-69), and elders' group (70-86). Objective aToM performance was assessed using the Frith-Happé animation task (including meaningful and meaningless interactions). The subjective performance was evaluated by a Short Subjective ToM Questionnaire (sToM10). The results in the animation task showed reduction in the ability to correctly categorize meaningless interaction among the adult participants (compared to young) and a further decrease in the ability to correctly categorize meaningful interactions among the elderly participants (compared to young participants). Subjective aToM results revealed that while older participants reported a reduction in general ability to infer feelings in others, they could not report a decrease in their ability to recognize specific feelings. Our results may indicate a unique characteristic of aToM decline, which may start in adults (60-69; only reflected when the social demands are high) and further aggravates as people grow older (70th and above). In addition, results of the self-report questionnaire may indicate that while the elders are fully aware of their general decline in aToM ability, awareness of their capability to identify specific emotions is impaired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariela Gigi
- Psychology Department, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
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10
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Abstract
Theory of mind (ToM) impairment is associated with poor social functioning in some psychological disorders (e.g., autism and schizophrenia). ToM deficits have also been linked with offending behavior in the theoretical literature. However, no review has examined the empirical evidence for such a link. We carried out a systematic review to provide a critical overview of studies involving ToM ability in offenders. We included studies published in English that used an instrument to measure at least one aspect of ToM. Twenty-eight eligible studies were identified and coded. Our findings reveal a generally mixed literature. Taking study quality into account, our findings suggest that offenders and nonoffenders do not differ in their first-order ToM. For second-order ToM, findings are mixed, even when only the highest quality studies are examined. Studies exploring advanced ToM showed mixed results overall, though the highest quality research appeared to indicate that offenders have impairments in advanced ToM which means that they may have difficulty understanding various mental states such as pretense, white lies, irony, double bluffs, and sarcasm. We suggest that well-controlled future studies, which also measure other facets of ToM (e.g., distinguishing between cognitive and affective ToM or examining ToM content), are needed to fully understand the role of ToM in offending.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilda Karoğlu
- School of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | | | - Caoilte Ó Ciardha
- School of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
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Rossetto F, Isernia S, Cabinio M, Pirastru A, Blasi V, Baglio F. Affective Theory of Mind as a residual ability to preserve mentalizing in amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: A 12-months longitudinal study. Front Neurol 2022; 13:1060699. [PMID: 36468066 PMCID: PMC9716015 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1060699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Theory of Mind (ToM) decline has been outlined in people with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI), but evidence from longitudinal studies is lacking. This longitudinal study aims to investigate changes in cognitive and affective ToM performance in an aMCI sample (n = 28; 14 females, mean age = 76.54 ± 4.35). METHOD Participants underwent two steps of neurocognitive evaluation, at the baseline (T1) and 12-month follow-up (T2), to obtain their global cognitive level and both affective (Reading the Mind in the Eyes test, ET) and cognitive (Strange Stories, SS) ToM profile. Then, participants were categorized into two groups based on ToM changes: people who worsened (ETΔ < 0; SSΔ < 0) and people who did not (ETΔ≥0; SSΔ≥0) at follow-up. Differences between groups in cognitive functions and ToM profiles at baseline have been investigated. RESULTS Our results showed that 46% of subjects worsened in affective (ET) and 28% in cognitive (SS) ToM at follow-up. People who worsened in ET reported a statistically significantly higher performance in ET at baseline (p = 0.002) but not at follow-up than people who did not worsen. In contrast, subjects who worsened in SS showed a lower Immediate Free Recall (IFR, p = 0.026) and Delayed Free Recall (DFR, p = 0.028) score of the Free and Cued Selective Reminding test at baseline and at follow-up, a lower ET (p = 0.020) baseline score, a lower SS and MMSE level at follow-up than people who not worsened. About 71% of MCI subjects showed the same trend of evolution of the Mini-Mental State Examination and SS. Variables that significantly differed between groups have been inserted in a stepwise logistic regression to pilot explore predictors of affective and cognitive ToM evolution. Logistic regression showed ET at baseline (p = 0.015) as the only significant predictor of affective ToM evolution (R2 = 0.450), while both ET (p = 0.044) and memory performance (p = 0.045) at baseline significantly predicted cognitive ToM evolution (R2 = 0.746). DISCUSSION In conclusion, our results support the role of affective ToM as a residual mentalizing ability in preserving the mentalizing level in people with aMCI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Isernia
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, Milan, Italy
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12
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An Investigation of the Validity of the Edinburgh Social Cognition Test (ESCoT) in Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2022; 28:1016-1028. [PMID: 36281634 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617721001223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Social cognition is frequently impaired following an acquired brain injury (ABI) but often overlooked in clinical assessments. There are few validated and appropriate measures of social cognitive abilities for ABI patients. The current study examined the validity of the Edinburgh Social Cognition Test (ESCoT, Baksh et al., ) in measuring social cognition following an ABI. METHODS Forty-one patients with ABI were recruited from a rehabilitation service and completed measures of general ability, executive functions and social cognition (Faux Pas; FP, Reading the Mind in the Eyes; RME, Social Norms Questionnaire; SNQ and the ESCoT). Forty-one controls matched on age, sex and years of education also performed the RME, SNQ and ESCoT. RESULTS A diagnosis of ABI was significantly associated with poorer performance on all ESCoT measures and RME while adjusting for age, sex and years of education. In ABI patients, the ESCoT showed good internal consistency with its subcomponents and performance correlated with the other measures of social cognition demonstrating convergent validity. Better Trail Making Test performance predicted better ESCoT total, RME and SNQ scores. Higher TOPF IQ was associated with higher RME scores, while higher WAIS-IV working memory predicted better FP performance. CONCLUSIONS The ESCoT is a brief, valid and internally consistent assessment tool able to detect social cognition deficits in neurological patients. Given the prevalence of social cognition deficits in ABI and the marked impact these can have on an individual's recovery, this assessment can be a helpful addition to a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment.
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Braak S, Su T, Krudop W, Pijnenburg YAL, Reus LM, van der Wee N, Bilderbeck AC, Dawson GR, van Rossum IW, Campos AV, Arango C, Saris IMJ, Kas MJ, Penninx BWJH. Theory of Mind and social functioning among neuropsychiatric disorders: A transdiagnostic study. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2022; 64:19-29. [PMID: 36070667 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2022.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Social dysfunction is commonly present in neuropsychiatric disorders of schizophrenia (SZ) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Theory of Mind (ToM) deficits have been linked to social dysfunction in disease-specific studies. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how ToM is related to social functioning across these disorders, and which factors contribute to this relationship. We investigated transdiagnostic associations between ToM and social functioning among SZ/AD patients and healthy controls, and explored to what extent these associations relate to information processing speed or facial emotion recognition capacity. A total of 163 participants were included (SZ: n=56, AD: n=50 and age-matched controls: n=57). Social functioning was assessed with the Social Functioning Scale (SFS) and the De Jong-Gierveld Loneliness Scale (LON). ToM was measured with the Hinting Task. Information processing speed was measured by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and facial emotion recognition capacity by the facial emotion recognition task (FERT). Case-control deficits in Hinting Task performance were larger in AD (rrb = -0.57) compared to SZ (rrb = -0.35). Poorer Hinting Task performance was transdiagnostically associated with the SFS (βHinting-Task = 1.20, p<0.01) and LON (βHinting-Task = -0.27, p<0.05). DSST, but not FERT, reduced the association between the SFS and Hinting Task performance, however the association remained significant (βHinting-Task = 0.95, p<0.05). DSST and FERT performances did not change the association between LON and Hinting Task performance. Taken together, ToM deficits are transdiagnostically associated with social dysfunction and this is partly related to reduced information processing speed.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Braak
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Neuroscience, Mood, Anxiety, Psychosis, Sleep & Stress program, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - T Su
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Neuroscience, Mood, Anxiety, Psychosis, Sleep & Stress program, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; GGZ inGeest Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - W Krudop
- St Antonius ziekenhuis, Department of Psychiatry, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Y A L Pijnenburg
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - L M Reus
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - N van der Wee
- Leiden University Medical Centre, Department of Psychiatry, the Netherlands
| | - A C Bilderbeck
- P1vital Ltd. Manor House, Howbery Park, Wallingford, United Kingdom
| | - G R Dawson
- P1vital Ltd. Manor House, Howbery Park, Wallingford, United Kingdom
| | - I Winter- van Rossum
- University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Department of Psychiatry The Netherlands
| | - A Vieira Campos
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa, Spain; Centre of Biomedical Research in Mental Health, CIBERSAM, Spain
| | - C Arango
- Centre of Biomedical Research in Mental Health, CIBERSAM, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Gregorio Marañon University Hospital, IiSGM, Spain; Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
| | - I M J Saris
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Neuroscience, Mood, Anxiety, Psychosis, Sleep & Stress program, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - M J Kas
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - B W J H Penninx
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Neuroscience, Mood, Anxiety, Psychosis, Sleep & Stress program, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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14
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Isernia S, MacPherson SE, Baksh RA, Bergsland N, Marchetti A, Baglio F, Massaro D. Italian adaptation of the Edinburgh Social Cognition Test (ESCoT): A new tool for the assessment of theory of mind and social norm understanding. Front Psychol 2022; 13:971187. [PMID: 36389515 PMCID: PMC9651931 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.971187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The relevance of social cognition assessment has been formally described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5. However, social cognition tools evaluating different socio-cognitive components for Italian-speaking populations are lacking. The Edinburgh Social Cognition Test (ESCoT) is a new social cognition measure that uses animations of everyday social interactions to assess (i) cognitive theory of mind, (ii) affective theory of mind, (iii) interpersonal social norm understanding, and (iv) intrapersonal social norm understanding. Previous studies have shown that the ESCoT is a sensitive measure of social cognition in healthy and clinical populations in the United Kingdom. This work aimed to adapt and validate the ESCoT in an Italian population of healthy adults. A translation-back-translation procedure was followed to create and refine the Italian version. Then, 94 healthy adults (47 females, mean age 35 ± 15.9) completed the ESCoT, a battery of conventional social cognition tests (Yoni; Reading the Mind in the Eyes Strange Stories, and Social Norm Questionnaire, SNQ) and measures of intelligence and executive functions. Reliability, convergent validity, and predictors of performance on the ESCoT were examined. Results demonstrated good reliability of the ESCoT and an association between the ESCoT scores and some traditional social cognition tests (Yoni cognitive subscale, SNQ). Hierarchical regression results showed that the ESCoT total score was associated with age. Also, the ESCoT subscore (intrapersonal social norm understanding) was associated with education. These findings support the ESCoT as a valid tool testing social norm understanding, a reliable measure of social cognition for an adult Italian population, and provides further evidence that the ESCoT is sensitive to age- and education-related changes in social cognition, and it is a task not affected by general cognitive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Isernia
- IRCCS Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation ONLUS, Milan, Italy
| | - Sarah E. MacPherson
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - R. Asaad Baksh
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Antonella Marchetti
- Research Unit on Theory of Mind, Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Davide Massaro
- Research Unit on Theory of Mind, Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
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15
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Markostamou I, Coventry KR. Age effects on processing spatial relations within different reference frames: The role of executive functions. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2022:1-17. [PMID: 36121065 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2022.2121212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mental representations of space can be generated and communicated with respect to different reference frames and perspectives. The present study investigated the effects of age and individual differences in domain-general executive functions on people's ability to process spatial relations as expressed in language within different spatial reference frames (SRFs). Healthy adults aged between 18 and 85 completed a novel task involving self-, third-person-, object-, and environment-centered judgements of spatial relations between two objects, as well as standard tests of working memory, inhibition, and mental flexibility. A psychometric evaluation confirmed the test-retest reliability and the convergent and divergent validity of the new task. Results showed that the lifespan trajectories varied depending on the SRF. Processing from a self-centered perspective or an object-centered frame remained intact throughout the adult-lifespan. By contrast, spatial processing from a third-person-centered perspective or within an environment-centered frame declined in late adulthood. Mediation regression models showed that mental flexibility accounted for a significant part of the age-related variance in spatial processing across all allocentric SRFs. The age effects on environment-centered processing were also partially mediated by age-related changes in visuospatial working memory capacity. These findings suggest that at least partially distinct systems are involved in mentally representing space under different SRFs, which are differentially affected by typical aging. Our results also highlight that people's ability to process spatial relations across different SRFs depends on their capacity to employ domain-general effortful cognitive resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Markostamou
- Division of Psychology, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
- School of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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16
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Grainger SA, Crawford JD, Riches JC, Kochan NA, Chander RJ, Mather KA, Sachdev PS, Henry JD. Aging Is Associated With Multidirectional Changes in Social Cognition: Findings From an Adult Life-Span Sample Ranging From 18 to 101 Years. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2022; 78:62-72. [PMID: 35985278 PMCID: PMC9890910 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbac110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Normal adult aging is associated with changes in social cognition. Although 4 social cognitive domains have been identified (social perception, theory of mind [ToM], affective empathy, and social behavior), no study has tested all 4 domains concurrently in a life-span sample, limiting understanding of the relative magnitude of age-related changes across domains. This study addresses this gap by providing the first assessment of all 4 social cognitive domains in an adult life-span sample. METHODS Three hundred and seventy-two participants ranging from 18 to 101 years of age took part in this study. Participants completed a testing battery that assessed social perception, ToM, affective empathy, and social behavior, as well as broader cognitive function and well-being. RESULTS The results showed that adult aging is associated with multidirectional changes in social cognitive abilities, with ToM and social perception showing nonlinear decline across much of the life-span, and affective empathy and social behavior showing improvement. Age remained a significant predictor of all 4 social cognitive domains, even after accounting for broader cognitive function. Weak associations emerged between some of the social cognitive abilities and and indices of broader well-being. DISCUSSION These findings provide novel and important evidence that normative aging is associated with both gains and losses in social cognition that occur at distinct points of the adult life-span, and that are at least partially independent of general age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Grainger
- Address correspondence to: Sarah A. Grainger, PhD, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia. E-mail:
| | - John D Crawford
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Nicole A Kochan
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Russell J Chander
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Karen A Mather
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia,Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), Sydney, Australia
| | - Perminder S Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia,Neuropsychiatric Institute, Princes of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Julie D Henry
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
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17
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Peters M, Schulz H. Theory-of-mind abilities in older patients with common mental disorders - a cross-sectional study. Aging Ment Health 2022; 26:1661-1668. [PMID: 34180279 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2021.1935461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Theory-of-mind (ToM) abilities are a basic competence for social interactions and relationships. Numerous findings demonstrate ToM deficits in old age, but such findings are missing in clinical samples of older adults. METHOD In the present study, patients treated in two clinics for common mental disorders (N = 150, distributed among the age groups 40-54, 55-69 and ≥70) were compared with a sample of people of the same age without mental disorders. The Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) was used, in which the task is to detect mental states in the eyes, which are presented in 36 pictures. RESULTS The two groups differed significantly from each other: the clinical samples achieved worse results than the nonclinical samples, and the older samples achieved worse results than the younger samples. In the multiple regression analysis significant beta-weights were found for executive functions, physical diseases (especially vascular diseases, in the clinical sample) and higher education. CONCLUSION Older patients show clinically significant deficits in ToM abilities, which should be taken into account in interventions promoting ToM abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meinolf Peters
- Institute for Psychotherapy for the Elderly, Department of Education, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Holger Schulz
- Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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18
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Roheger M, Brenning J, Riemann S, Martin AK, Flöel A, Meinzer M. Progression of socio-cognitive impairment from healthy aging to Alzheimer's Dementia: A systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 140:104796. [PMID: 35905800 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trajectories of decline across different socio-cognitive domains in healthy older adults and in pathological aging conditions have not been investigated. This was addressed in the present systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collection, CENTRAL, and PsycInfo were searched for studies investigating social cognition across four domains (Theory of Mind, ToM; emotion recognition, ER; Social-decision making, SD; visual perspective taking, VPT) in healthy older individuals, individuals with subjective and mild cognitive impairment (SCD, MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted. RESULTS Of 8,137 screened studies, 132 studies were included in the review. ToM and ER showed a clear progression of impairment from normal aging to AD. Differential patterns of decline were identified for different types of ToM and ER. CONCLUSION This systematic review identified progression of impairment of specific socio-cognitive abilities, which is the necessary pre-requisite for developing targeted interventions. We identified a lack of research on socio-cognitive decline in different populations (e.g., middle age, SCD and MCI-subtypes) and domains (SDM, VPT). REGISTRATION CRD42020191607, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandy Roheger
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Jana Brenning
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Steffen Riemann
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Andrew K Martin
- Department of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom CT2 7NP
| | - Agnes Flöel
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Marcus Meinzer
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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19
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Cognitive and Affective Theory of Mind across Adulthood. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12070899. [PMID: 35884706 PMCID: PMC9313336 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12070899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Theory of mind (ToM) is a fundamental aspect of social cognition. Previous studies on age-related changes in mentalizing processes have provided conflicting results. This study aims to investigate the age-related changes in the cognitive and affective components of ToM throughout adulthood. METHODS Two hundred and thirty-eight healthy participants divided into five age groups (18-40 years old; 41-50 years old; 51-60 years old; 61-70 years; 71-80 years old) underwent tasks assessing the cognitive (ToM Picture Sequencing Task, TMPS, and the Advanced Test of ToM, ATT) and affective (Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task, RMET, and the Emotion Attribution Task, EAT) components of ToM, in both verbal and nonverbal modality. RESULTS Regarding affective ToM, both the youngest- and middle-old adult groups (61 to 80 years) performed worse than the young and youngest-middle adult groups (18 to 50 years) in the RMET, but no significant differences were found in the EAT. Regarding cognitive ToM, the middle-old adult group (71 to 80 years) performed worse than the young adult group (18 to 40 years) only in the TMPS, but no significant differences were found in the ATT. CONCLUSION Rather than a general decline in ToM, our results provide evidence regarding selective changes in ToM in older adults, further confirming the dissociation of cognitive and affective ToM.
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20
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Setién-Suero E, Murillo-García N, Sevilla-Ramos M, Abreu-Fernández G, Pozueta A, Ayesa-Arriola R. Exploring the Relationship Between Deficits in Social Cognition and Neurodegenerative Dementia: A Systematic Review. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:778093. [PMID: 35572150 PMCID: PMC9093607 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.778093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundNeurodegenerative diseases might affect social cognition in various ways depending on their components (theory of mind, emotional processing, attribution bias, and social perception) and the subtype of dementia they cause. This review aims to explore this difference in cognitive function among individuals with different aetiologies of dementia.MethodsThe following databases were explored: MEDLINE via PubMed, Cochrane Library, Lilacs, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. We selected studies examining social cognition in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases in which dementia was the primary symptom that was studied. The neurodegenerative diseases included Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. The search yielded 2,803 articles.ResultsOne hundred twenty-two articles were included in the present review. The summarised results indicate that people with neurodegenerative diseases indeed have deficits in social cognitive performance. Both in populations with Alzheimer's disease and in populations with frontotemporal dementia, we found that emotional processing was strongly affected. However, although theory of mind impairment could also be observed in the initial stages of frontotemporal dementia, in Alzheimer's disease it was only appreciated when performing highly complex task or in advanced stages of the disease.ConclusionsEach type of dementia has a differential profile of social cognition deterioration. This review could provide a useful reference for clinicians to improve detection and diagnosis, which would undoubtedly guarantee better interventions.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020152562, PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42020152562.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Setién-Suero
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
- IDIVAL, Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute, Santander, Spain
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain
- *Correspondence: Esther Setién-Suero ; orcid.org/0000-0002-8027-6546
| | - Nancy Murillo-García
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
- IDIVAL, Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute, Santander, Spain
| | | | - Georgelina Abreu-Fernández
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
- IDIVAL, Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute, Santander, Spain
| | - Ana Pozueta
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
- IDIVAL, Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute, Santander, Spain
- Neurology Service and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa Ayesa-Arriola
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
- IDIVAL, Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute, Santander, Spain
- CIBERSAM, Biomedical Research Network on Mental Health Area, Madrid, Spain
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21
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Braley MS, Thornton AE, Loken Thornton W. Anxiety symptoms and theory of mind in older and younger adults: curvilinearity moderated by age group. Aging Ment Health 2022; 27:829-837. [PMID: 35475407 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2022.2060183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Theory of mind (ToM), the ability to reason about mental states, declines in later life. While anxiety symptoms may predict ToM abilities, the nature of associations requires more elucidation. Further, it is unknown whether age group moderates associational patterns. We examined associations between anxiety symptoms (linear and curvilinear) and cognitive ToM (C-ToM) and affective ToM (A-ToM); and moderation by age group (older vs. younger adults). METHODS In a sample of healthy younger (n = 90, Mage = 20.17 years) and older adults (n = 87, Mage = 71.52), we used hierarchical regressions with polynomial and interaction terms to assess the association between anxiety symptoms and ToM in younger and older adults. RESULTS Anxiety symptoms were associated with C-ToM but not A-ToM. Age group interacted linearly with anxiety (β = -1.64, p = .02), and with anxiety's quadratic polynomial (β = .84, p = .04). The inverted-U shaped association in younger adults (highest C-ToM at moderate anxiety) contrasted with older adults' linear decline in C-ToM with increasing anxiety. CONCLUSION We highlight the importance of anxiety symptoms for predicting ToM, and clarify that associations vary by age. Elucidating associations may be critical to developing interventions that improve social wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- McKenzie S Braley
- Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Allen E Thornton
- Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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22
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Torenvliet C, Groenman AP, Radhoe TA, Agelink van Rentergem JA, Van der Putten WJ, Geurts HM. Parallel age-related cognitive effects in autism: A cross-sectional replication study. Autism Res 2021; 15:507-518. [PMID: 34862853 PMCID: PMC9300037 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Findings on age-related cognitive effects in autism in adulthood are inconsistent across studies. As these studies substantially differ in their methodology, replication studies are needed. In this replication study frequentist (i.e., null-hypothesis significance testing), and Bayesian statistics were used to investigate the hypothesis that in autistic adults compared to non-autistic adults mostly parallel, but also protective age-related cognitive effects can be observed. Participants were 88 autistic adults, and 88 non-autistic matched comparisons (age range: 30-89 years, mean age: 55 years). Cognitive measures were administered on the following six domains: verbal memory, visual memory, working memory, Theory of Mind (ToM), verbal fluency, and processing speed, and self-reported cognitive failures. Non-autistic adults outperformed autistic adults on ToM, verbal fluency, and verbal memory, but only the first two were confirmed with Bayesian replication analyses. Also, more cognitive failures were reported by autistic adults. No interactions between group and age were observed, suggesting a parallel age-related effect on all cognitive domains. In sum, previously observed difficulties in ToM and verbal fluency were replicated which seem to persist at older age. Previously reported parallel age-related cognitive patterns were replicated, yet no evidence for protective age-related patterns was found. LAY SUMMARY: We investigated whether our previous findings on cognitive aging in autism could be confirmed in a new study measuring the cognitive effects of age in autistic and non-autistic adults. As expected, tasks that younger autistic adults had difficulties with (theory of mind, fluency) were also difficult for older autistic adults, and the effect of age itself was similar in autistic and non-autistic adults. Unexpectedly, we observed no protective effects (less cognitive aging) in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolien Torenvliet
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annabeth P Groenman
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tulsi A Radhoe
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joost A Agelink van Rentergem
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wikke J Van der Putten
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Leo Kannerhuis, Autism Clinic (Youz/Parnassia Group), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Leo Kannerhuis, Autism Clinic (Youz/Parnassia Group), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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23
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Zekelman LR, Zhang F, Makris N, He J, Chen Y, Xue T, Liera D, Drane DL, Rathi Y, Golby AJ, O'Donnell LJ. White matter association tracts underlying language and theory of mind: An investigation of 809 brains from the Human Connectome Project. Neuroimage 2021; 246:118739. [PMID: 34856375 PMCID: PMC8862285 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Language and theory of mind (ToM) are the cognitive capacities that allow for the successful interpretation and expression of meaning. While functional MRI investigations are able to consistently localize language and ToM to specific cortical regions, diffusion MRI investigations point to an inconsistent and sometimes overlapping set of white matter tracts associated with these two cognitive domains. To further examine the white matter tracts that may underlie these domains, we use a two-tensor tractography method to investigate the white matter microstructure of 809 participants from the Human Connectome Project. 20 association white matter tracts (10 in each hemisphere) are uniquely identified by leveraging a neuroanatomist-curated automated white matter tract atlas. The fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and number of streamlines (NoS) are measured for each white matter tract. Performance on neuropsychological assessments of semantic memory (NIH Toolbox Picture Vocabulary Test, TPVT) and emotion perception (Penn Emotion Recognition Test, PERT) are used to measure critical subcomponents of the language and ToM networks, respectively. Regression models are constructed to examine how structural measurements of left and right white matter tracts influence performance across these two assessments. We find that semantic memory performance is influenced by the number of streamlines of the left superior longitudinal fasciculus III (SLF-III), and emotion perception performance is influenced by the number of streamlines of the right SLF-III. Additionally, we find that performance on both semantic memory & emotion perception is influenced by the FA of the left arcuate fasciculus (AF). The results point to multiple, overlapping white matter tracts that underlie the cognitive domains of language and ToM. Results are discussed in terms of hemispheric dominance and concordance with prior investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo R Zekelman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA; Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Nikos Makris
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, USA; Center for Morphometric Analysis, Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Psychiatric Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Jianzhong He
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA; Institution of Information Processing and Automation, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuqian Chen
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA; School of Computer Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Tengfei Xue
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA; School of Computer Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Daniel L Drane
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, US
| | - Yogesh Rathi
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA; Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Alexandra J Golby
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA; Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Lauren J O'Donnell
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
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24
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Tamaš O, Kostić M, Kačar A, Stefanova E, Ðokić BS, Stanisavljević D, Milovanović A, Ðorđević M, Glumbić N, Dragašević-Mišković N. Social Cognition in Patients With Cerebellar Neurodegenerative Disorders. Front Syst Neurosci 2021; 15:664223. [PMID: 34497494 PMCID: PMC8419701 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2021.664223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Cerebellar neurodegenerative disorders (CDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders. It is known that the cerebellum plays a role not only in motor, but also in cognitive and social cognitive functions. The aim of this study was to investigate social cognition in patients with different CDs. Materials and Methods Social cognition was examined in 34 patients, 12 with spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), 6 with spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2), and 16 with idiopathic late onset cerebellar ataxia (ILOCA). All patients were clinically evaluated using the Scale for the Rating and Assessment of Ataxia. In addition, 34 age, sex, and education-matched healthy control (HC) subjects were similarly analyzed. Social cognition was studied using two tests: the Faux Pas Recognition Test and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET). An appropriate array of neuropsychological tests was used to assess the global cognitive status as well as the frontal functions and mood. Results CD patients achieved significantly worse results on both tests of social cognition compared to the HCs. The SCA1 + 2 group achieved the poorest results on the Faux Pas Recognition Test and exhibited poor performance on all cognitive tests, but was only significantly worse compared to the ILOCA group on the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) – recognition. The patients in the SCA1 + 2 and ILOCA groups obtained similar scores on RMET. In the SCA1 + 2 group the findings significantly correlated with clinical parameters of disease severity and duration and executive functions (EFs), and with mood and executive functions in the ILOCA group. In the SCA group EFs appeared as the only significant predictor of RMET achievement. The Boston Naming Test (BTN) was a significant predictor of the CD patients’ achievement on RMET, while the BTN, the Trail Making Test Part A and FCSRT – Delayed free recall predicted their performance on the Faux Pas Recognition Test. Conclusion Patients with CD have social cognitive impairments as demonstrated by the Faux Pas Test and the RMET test results. The SCA1 and 2 patients exhibited a more pronounced impairment compared with the ILOCA patients. The independent cognitive predictors of social cognition impairment were EFs and language.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivera Tamaš
- Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milutin Kostić
- Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Aleksandra Kačar
- Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Elka Stefanova
- Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Biljana Salak Ðokić
- Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dejana Stanisavljević
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Andona Milovanović
- Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Mirjana Ðorđević
- Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nenad Glumbić
- Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nataša Dragašević-Mišković
- Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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25
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Schild AK, Volk J, Scharfenberg D, Schuermann K, Meiberth D, Onur OA, Jessen F, Maier F. Social Cognition in Patients with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild Dementia of the Alzheimer Type. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 83:1173-1186. [PMID: 34397409 DOI: 10.3233/jad-201126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social cognition (SC) is a core criterion for neurocognitive disorders. However, findings in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) are inconsistent. OBJECTIVE We report assessments of emotion recognition (ER), affective and cognitive theory of mind (ToM) in young (YC) and older controls (OC) compared to aMCI and DAT. METHODS 28 aMCI, 30 DAT, 30 YC, and 29 OC received tests of SC and a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. Analysis of covariance was used to determine group differences. Multiple regression models were applied to identify predictors for each SC task. RESULTS In controls, OC performed worse in ER and both ToM tasks compared to YC except for one subtest. No significant differences were found between OC and patients concerning ER and affective ToM. In cognitive ToM, differences between OC and patients depended on content and cognitive load with significant impairment in DAT compared to OC. A cognitive composite score predicted SC in OC, but not in patients. Associations of SC with single cognitive domains were found in all groups with language and complex attention as best predictors. Not all variance of SC performance was explained by variance in cognitive domains. CONCLUSION Lower performance on SC tasks in OC versus YC was confirmed, although not all tasks were equally affected. With progressive cognitive impairment, cognitive ToM is more impaired than ER or affective ToM. SC seems to be at least partly independent of other cognitive domains, justifying its inclusion in batteries for dementia diagnostic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Katrin Schild
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jenny Volk
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | - Daniel Scharfenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | - Katrin Schuermann
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | - Dix Meiberth
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Oezguer A Onur
- University Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Neurology, Cologne, Germany
| | - Frank Jessen
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.,Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Franziska Maier
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Cologne, Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
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26
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Ávila-Villanueva M, Gómez-Ramírez J, Ávila J, Fernández-Blázquez MA. Alzheimer's Disease and Empathic Abilities: The Proposed Role of the Cingulate Cortex. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2021; 5:345-352. [PMID: 34189406 PMCID: PMC8203285 DOI: 10.3233/adr-200282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years there has been increasing interest in examining the role of empathic abilities in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Empathy, the ability to understand and share another person’s feelings, implies the existence of emotional and cognitive processes and is a pivotal aspect for success in social interactions. In turn, self-empathy is oriented to one’s thoughts and feelings. Decline of empathy and self-empathy can occur during the AD continuum and can be linked to different neuroanatomical pathways in which the cingulate cortex may play a crucial role. Here, we will summarize the involvement of empathic abilities through the AD continuum and further discuss the potential neurocognitive mechanisms that contribute to decline of empathy and self-empathy in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Ávila-Villanueva
- Alzheimer Disease Research Unit, CIEN Foundation, Carlos III Institute of Health, Queen Sofía Foundation Alzheimer Center, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jaime Gómez-Ramírez
- Alzheimer Disease Research Unit, CIEN Foundation, Carlos III Institute of Health, Queen Sofía Foundation Alzheimer Center, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Ávila
- Center of Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel A Fernández-Blázquez
- Alzheimer Disease Research Unit, CIEN Foundation, Carlos III Institute of Health, Queen Sofía Foundation Alzheimer Center, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Processes and Speech Therapy, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Campus de Somosaguas, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
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27
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Do Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Condition Anticipate Others' Actions as Goal-Directed? A Predictive Coding Perspective. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 50:2077-2089. [PMID: 30850911 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-03964-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
An action's end state can be anticipated by considering the agent's goal, or simply by projecting the movement trajectory. Theories suggest that individuals with autism spectrum condition (ASC) have difficulties anticipating other's goal-directed actions, caused by an impairment using prior information. We examined whether children, adolescents and adults with and without ASC visually anticipate another's action based on its goal or movement trajectory by presenting participants an agent repeatedly taking different paths to reach the same of two targets. The ASC group anticipated the goal and not just the movement pattern, but needed more time to perform goal-directed anticipations. Results are in line with predictive coding accounts, claiming that the use of prior information is impaired in ASC.
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28
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Gourlay C, Collin P, Caron PO, D'Auteuil C, Scherzer PB. Psychometric assessment of social cognitive tasks. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY-ADULT 2020; 29:731-749. [PMID: 32841055 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2020.1807348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Although there has been a marked increase in interest in social cognition (SC) in recent years, psychometric data relating to many tasks used to measure its components remain limited in healthy populations with only five articles published to date. It is accordingly premature to speak of a consensus concerning the specific components, or best tests of the components, and possible cultural differences. The present study sought to partially fill that gap, examining the psychometric properties of a battery of SC tasks in a sample of 100 healthy adults aged 18-85 years old. Initially, nine tasks assessing four SC components were selected: emotion recognition, theory of mind, attributional bias, and social judgment. Construct validity and criterion-related validity were assessed using factor and correlational analyses. Performance across age and sex groups was also investigated. Reliability was assessed through internal consistency, interrater and intercoder agreement. Results indicated satisfactory properties for the Ambiguous Intentions Hostility Questionnaire-blame score, the Social Judgment Task, the Facial Emotions Recognition Test, and a modified version of the Strange Stories Task. Statistically significant differences were found between the groups with regard to age and sex after accounting for demographic and cognitive factors. However, the correlations of these measures with relationship quality were mostly very low, raising questions about their concomitant validity. Other tasks showed sub-optimal properties, suggesting that some frequently used tests require further validation or modifications to ensure the quality of research findings. Based on the results, recommended measures for future studies and limitations are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Gourlay
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Pascal Collin
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | | | - Camille D'Auteuil
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Peter B Scherzer
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada
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29
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Laurita AC, DuPre E, Ebner NC, Turner GR, Spreng RN. Default network interactivity during mentalizing about known others is modulated by age and social closeness. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2020; 15:537-549. [PMID: 32399555 PMCID: PMC7328027 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsaa067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In young adults, mentalizing about known others engages the default network, with differential brain response modulated by social closeness. While the functional integrity of the default network changes with age, few studies have investigated how these changes impact the representation of known others, across levels of closeness. Young (N = 29, 16 females) and older (N = 27, 12 females) adults underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning while making trait judgments for social others varying in closeness. Multivariate analyses (partial least squares) identified default network activation for trait judgments across both age cohorts. For young adults, romantic partner and self-judgments differed from other levels of social closeness and were associated with activity in default and salience networks. In contrast, default network interactivity was not modulated by social closeness for older adults. In two functional connectivity analyses, both age groups demonstrated connectivity between dorsal and ventral medial prefrontal cortex and other default network regions during trait judgments. However older, but not young, adults also showed increased functional coupling between medial and lateral prefrontal brain regions that did not vary by category of known other. Mentalizing about others engages default and frontal brain regions in older adulthood, and this coupling is poorly modulated by social closeness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne C Laurita
- Health Promotion & Prevention Services, University Health Services, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Elizabeth DuPre
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Natalie C Ebner
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.,Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Gary R Turner
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - R Nathan Spreng
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.,Department of Psychology, McGill University, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.,McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
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30
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Corradi-Dell’Acqua C, Ronchi R, Thomasson M, Bernati T, Saj A, Vuilleumier P. Deficits in cognitive and affective theory of mind relate to dissociated lesion patterns in prefrontal and insular cortex. Cortex 2020; 128:218-233. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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31
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Executive Functions do not Underlie Performance on the Edinburgh Social Cognition Test (ESCoT) in Healthy Younger and Older Adults. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2020; 26:527-538. [PMID: 31964453 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617719001450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Current measures of social cognition have shown inconsistent findings regarding the effects of executive function (EF) abilities on social cognitive performance in older adults. The psychometric properties of the different social cognition tests may underlie the disproportional overlap with EF abilities. Our aim was to examine the relationship between social cognition and EF abilities using the Edinburgh Social Cognition Test (ESCoT; Baksh, R.A., Abrahams, S., Auyeung, B., & MacPherson, S.E. (2018). The Edinburgh Social Cognition Test (ESCoT): Examining the effects of age on a new measure of theory of mind and social norm understanding. PloS One, 13(4), e0195818.), a test assessing four different aspects of social cognition: cognitive theory of mind (ToM), affective ToM, interpersonal understanding of social norms, and intrapersonal understanding of social norms. METHOD We administered the ESCoT, EF measures of inhibition, set shifting, updating, and a measure of processing speed to 30 younger and 31 older adults. We also administered the Visual Perspective Taking task (VPT) as a ToM test thought to be reliant on EF abilities. RESULTS Better performance on cognitive ToM was significantly associated with younger age and slower processing speed. Better performance on affective ToM and ESCoT total score was associated with being younger and female. Better performance on interpersonal understanding of social norms was associated with being younger. EF abilities did not predict performance on any subtest of the ESCoT. In contrast, on the VPT, the relationship between age group and performance was fully or partially mediated by processing speed and updating. CONCLUSIONS These findings show that the ESCoT is a valuable measure of different aspects of social cognition and, unlike many established tests of social cognition, performance is not predicted by EF abilities.
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32
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Neurocognitive determinants of theory of mind across the adult lifespan. Brain Cogn 2019; 136:103588. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2019.103588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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33
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Giovagnoli AR. Theory of mind across lifespan from ages 16 to 81 years. Epilepsy Behav 2019; 100:106349. [PMID: 31375413 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.05.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Impaired theory of mind (ToM) is a neurobehavioral phenotype of epilepsy. Given that the age transitions affect cognitive development and decline, it is important to refine ToM across the lifespan. This study evaluated ToM in healthy subjects, taking into account education, gender, and other functions, aiming to clarify its specificity and relationships to major demographic and cognitive domains. METHODS A hundred and seventy subjects from ages 16 to 81 years (68 men) who received five to 17 years of schooling were evaluated using a Faux Pas Task (FPT) that is solved at the end of childhood and is highly sensitive to brain damage and tests for language, memory, praxis, visual perception, initiative, attention, shifting, and planning. Factor analysis, analysis of variance, and correlation and regression analyses were used to assess the data. RESULTS The analysis yielded six factors: Beliefs, Delusions, and Facts, which express the understanding of mental states and contextual details; Matching-Learning, Executive, and Working Memory. On this basis, six composite scores (CSs) were computed. Age and schooling showed significant effects on the Matching-Learning, Executive, and Working Memory CSs. The FPT raw scores and CSs were unrelated to age or schooling, while females showed better performance than males. The Beliefs CS and FPT scores were predicted by the Executive, Working Memory, Delusions, and Facts CSs and gender. CONCLUSIONS Theory of mind is a specific cognitive domain independent of age and formal education, but related to gender. Working memory, executive functions, and reality examination support some ToM processes. These findings may provide reference points against which impairment can be assessed. This article is part of the Special Issue "Epilepsy and social cognition across the lifespan".
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rita Giovagnoli
- Department of Diagnostics and Technology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy.
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34
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Cho I, Cohen AS. Explaining age-related decline in theory of mind: Evidence for intact competence but compromised executive function. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222890. [PMID: 31539418 PMCID: PMC6754124 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies suggest theory of mind (ToM) ability declines with age. However, prior tasks not only required ToM competence but also imposed high executive function (EF) demands, so decline in ToM ability could be caused by deterioration in ToM competence, EF, or both. It was predicted that if the elderly have intact ToM competence but compromised EF, then they should perform similarly to younger adults when using ToM tasks that lower executive demands, such as spontaneous-response tasks. Results showed that on tasks with reduced demands, older adults tracked belief to the same extent as younger adults, despite their declining EF. The findings support a model in which age-related decline in ToM ability is primarily caused by compromised EF, not ToM competence, suggesting that underlying ToM mechanisms are still intact in the elderly. We discuss implications of this work for competence-performance issues in ToM processing and the underlying sources of age-related deterioration of ToM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isu Cho
- Department of Psychology and Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Adam S. Cohen
- Department of Psychology and Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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35
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Stewart GR, Wallace GL, Cottam M, Charlton RA. Theory of mind performance in younger and older adults with elevated autistic traits. Autism Res 2019; 13:751-762. [PMID: 31520519 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about the impact of aging with Autism Spectrum Disorder on theory of mind (ToM). While ToM difficulties appear to abate with age in older autistic populations, this has yet to be explored in the Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP). The current study examined ToM performance among younger (n = 49, aged 18-46) and older adults (n = 47, aged 60-91) who were classified as on the BAP (younger n = 18; older n = 21) or not (younger n = 31; older n = 26) using the BAP Questionnaire. ToM was assessed using the ecologically valid Strange Stories Film Task (SSFT) and the dynamic Happé-Frith Triangle Animations task (TA). A 2 × 2 analysis of variance examined the effects of autistic traits (BAP vs. non-BAP) and age (young vs. old). For both SSFT and TA, results showed autistic trait main effects on task performance (non-BAP > BAP). Age main effects were observed for some but not all metrics on TA (younger better than older), with no differences in SSFT. An interaction of autistic traits and age was observed in TA Intentionality, with younger non-BAP and younger BAP performing similarly but older non-BAP performing better than older BAP. Results show that younger and older adults with elevated autistic traits show poorer ToM performance. Despite ToM difficulties being common in later life in the general population, this effect was not observed when using a ToM task designed to reflect real-world scenarios. However, results suggest that autistic traits and age could interact to increase risk for poor ToM performance in older adults who endorse elevated autistic traits. Autism Res 2020, 13: 751-762. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: The behaviors and characteristics commonly found in autism spectrum disorders have been linked to differences in understanding social situations. Similar difficulties have also been found in older age. We assessed social understanding in younger and older adults from the general population. Both younger and older adults who report more autism-like characteristics experience more difficulties with social understanding. However, few differences were found between younger and older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin R Stewart
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths University of London, London, UK
| | - Gregory L Wallace
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Martha Cottam
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths University of London, London, UK
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Lecce S, Ceccato I, Cavallini E. Theory of mind, mental state talk and social relationships in aging: The case of friendship. Aging Ment Health 2019; 23:1105-1112. [PMID: 30482047 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2018.1479832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: Previous research has shown a decline in Theory of mind (ToM) associated with normal aging. However, very few studies have investigated older people's ToM using an ecological approach. The present study was designed to fill this gap and examine older people's frequency of mental state talk (MST) in describing their best friend, together with their performance on a traditional ToM task. In addition, the study examined the association between these two ToM indices and relationships with friends and family members. Method: Seventy-two healthy older adults (age range 60-79) participated in the study. We measured ToM ability with a classic measure, the Faux Pas task, and selected the Describe-a-friend task to measure MST frequency; social relationships were investigated with the Lubben Social Network Scale. Correlation and regression analyses were performed. Results: No significant association between MST and scores on the Faux Pas task emerged. In addition, MST (but not Faux Pas scores) significantly predicted friendships (but not family relationships) over and above general cognitive functioning. Conclusion: These findings show the crucial distinction between possessing an ability and using it in daily life and suggest the need to move toward more ecological measures of older adults' abilities. In addition, the present results indicate that the spontaneous use of ToM ability, not the ability per se, impacts on older adults' social relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Lecce
- a Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences , University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy
| | - Irene Ceccato
- a Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences , University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy
| | - Elena Cavallini
- a Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences , University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy
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Optical measures of cerebral arterial stiffness are associated with white matter signal abnormalities and cognitive performance in normal aging. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 84:200-207. [PMID: 31500910 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Decline in fluid abilities in normal aging is associated with increased white matter lesions, measured on T1-weighted images as white matter signal abnormalities (WMSAs). WMSAs are particularly evident in hypertensive older adults, suggesting vascular involvement. However, because hypertension is assessed systemically, the specific role of cerebral arterial stiffening in WMSAs has yet to be demonstrated. In 93 cognitively normal adults (aged 18-87 years), we used a novel method to measure cerebral arterial elasticity (pulse relaxation function [PReFx]) with diffuse optical tomography (pulse-DOT) and investigated its association with WMSAs, age, and cognition. PReFx was associated with WMSAs, with older adults with low PReFx showing the greatest WMSA burden. PReFx in brain regions perfused by the middle cerebral artery showed the largest associations with WMSAs and partially mediated the relationship between age and WMSAs. Finally, WMSAs partially mediated the relationship between PReFx and fluid but not crystallized abilities scores. Taken together, these findings suggest that loss of cerebral arterial elasticity is associated with cerebral white matter lesions and age-related cognitive decline.
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38
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Motivation and social-cognitive abilities in older adults: Convergent evidence from self-report measures and cardiovascular reactivity. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0218785. [PMID: 31291276 PMCID: PMC6619662 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, some authors have suggested that age-related impairments in social-cognitive abilities-emotion recognition (ER) and theory of mind (ToM)-may be explained in terms of reduced motivation and effort mobilization in older adults. We examined performance on ER and ToM tasks, as well as corresponding control tasks, experimentally manipulating self-involvement. Sixty-one older adults and 57 young adults were randomly assigned to either a High or Low self-involvement condition. In the first condition, self-involvement was raised by telling participants were told that good task performance was associated with a number of positive, personally relevant social outcomes. Motivation was measured with both subjective (self-report questionnaire) and objective (systolic blood pressure reactivity-SBP-R) indices. Results showed that the self-involvement manipulation did not increase self-reported motivation, SBP-R, or task performance. Further correlation analyses focusing on individual differences in motivation did not reveal any association with performance, in either young or older adults. Notably, we found age-related decline in both ER and ToM, despite older adults having higher motivation than young adults. Overall, the present results were not consistent with previous claims that motivation affects older adults' social-cognitive performance, opening the route to potential alternative explanations.
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Roestorf A, Bowler D, Deserno M, Howlin P, Klinger L, McConachie H, Parr J, Powell P, Van Heijst B, Geurts H. "Older Adults with ASD: The Consequences of Aging." Insights from a series of special interest group meetings held at the International Society for Autism Research 2016-2017. RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2019; 63:3-12. [PMID: 31275429 PMCID: PMC6559228 DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2018.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 08/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
A special interest group (SIG) entitled "Older Adults with ASD: The Consequences of Aging" was held at the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) annual meetings in 2016 and 2017. The SIG and subsequent meetings brought together, for the first time, international delegates who were members of the autistic community, researchers, practitioners and service providers. Based on aging autism research that is already underway in UK, Europe, Australia and North America, discussions focussed on conceptualising the parameters of aging when referring to autism, and the measures that are appropriate to use with older adults when considering diagnostic assessment, cognitive factors and quality of life in older age. Thus, the aim of this SIG was to progress the research agenda on current and future directions for autism research in the context of aging. A global issue on how to define 'aging' when referring to ASD was at the forefront of discussions. The 'aging' concept can in principle refer to all developmental transitions. However, in this paper we focus on the cognitive and physical changes that take place from mid-life onwards. Accordingly, it was agreed that aging and ASD research should focus on adults over the age of 50 years, given the high rates of co-occurring physical and mental health concerns and increased risk of premature death in some individuals. Moreover, very little is known about the cognitive change, care needs and outcomes of autistic adults beyond this age. Discussions on the topics of diagnostic and cognitive assessments, and of quality of life and well-being were explored through shared knowledge about which measures are currently being used and which background questions should be asked to obtain comprehensive and informative developmental and medical histories. Accordingly, a survey was completed by SIG delegates who were representatives of international research groups across four continents, and who are currently conducting studies with older autistic adults. Considerable overlap was identified across different research groups in measures of both autism and quality of life, which pointed to combining data and shared learnings as the logical next step. Regarding the background questions that were asked, the different research groups covered similar topics but the groups differed in the way these questions were formulated when working with autistic adults across a range of cognitive abilities. It became clear that continued input from individuals on the autism spectrum is important to ensure that questionnaires used in ongoing and future are accessible and understandable for people across the whole autistic spectrum, including those with limited verbal abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Roestorf
- The Ageing with Autism Project, Autism Research Group, Department of Psychology, City, University of London, United Kingdom
| | - D.M. Bowler
- The Ageing with Autism Project, Autism Research Group, Department of Psychology, City, University of London, United Kingdom
| | - M.K. Deserno
- Dutch Autism Research Center (d’Arc), Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Doorwerth, The Netherlands
| | - P. Howlin
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, United Kingdom
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia
| | - L. Klinger
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, TEACCH Autism Program, Department of Psychiatry, USA
| | - H. McConachie
- Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
| | - J.R. Parr
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
| | - P. Powell
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Psychology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - B.F.C. Van Heijst
- Dutch Autism Research Center (d’Arc), Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Doorwerth, The Netherlands
| | - H.M. Geurts
- Dutch Autism Research Center (d’Arc), Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Doorwerth, The Netherlands
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Calso C, Besnard J, Allain P. Study of the theory of mind in normal aging: focus on the deception detection and its links with other cognitive functions. AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2019; 27:430-452. [PMID: 31188065 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2019.1628176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Detection of deception is crucial to avoid negative circumstances (financial frauds, social tricks) in daily living. Considering that this cognitive function is especially supported by the prefrontal cortex of the human brain and that these cerebral regions change with advanced age, deception detection may also change with aging. Our purpose is to study this complex ability and its potential links with other cognitive functions, such as the executive control, in normal aging. Thirty-five young adults (YA) aged from 20 to 40, thirty-five old adults (OA) aged from 65 to 79 and thirty very old adults (VOA) aged from 80 to 95 were involved in this study. We propose a novel neuropsychological test (inspired by Theory of Mind Picture Story task) assessing the ability to understand deceptive and cooperative interactions, and tasks involving executive processes (monitoring, task setting, flexibility) to all participants. Between-group analyses show that older participants performed worse than YA on deceptive, cooperative and mixed situations (involving deception and reciprocity) of our task. Significant correlations exist between the deception-cooperation detection and the executive functions. Our results show that these frontal abilities decline after 65 years, even more after 80 years, and they are involved on the deceptive-cooperative situations. The verbal IQ is also linked with the deception-cooperation detection. This suggests that mixed cognitive trainings would allow older adults to detect more easily bad intentions of others, to adjust their behavior to context and to achieve their goals with less risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Calso
- Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire (EA 4638), Université d'Angers, Maison de la recherche Germaine-Tillion, Angers cedex 01, France.,Unité Transversale de Recherche Psychogenèse et Psychopathologie. Cliniques, psychopathologie et psychanalyse (EA 4403), Université Paris 13-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Villetaneuse, France
| | - Jérémy Besnard
- Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire (EA 4638), Université d'Angers, Maison de la recherche Germaine-Tillion, Angers cedex 01, France
| | - Philippe Allain
- Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire (EA 4638), Université d'Angers, Maison de la recherche Germaine-Tillion, Angers cedex 01, France.,Unité de neuropsychologie, Département de neurologie, CHU d'Angers, Angers cedex 01, France
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Montoya‐Murillo G, Ibarretxe‐Bilbao N, Peña J, Ojeda N. The impact of apathy on cognitive performance in the elderly. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2019; 34:657-665. [PMID: 30672026 PMCID: PMC6594084 DOI: 10.1002/gps.5062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine the impact of apathy on cognitive performance in the elderly following the conceptual principles proposed by Marin1 and Stuss et al2 and to determine the role of the symptoms of apathy in different cognitive domains. METHODS Cross-sectional study with a cohort of healthy elderly subjects over 55 years old (n = 140). One hundred forty healthy-elderly subjects (aged 79.24 ± 8.6 years old) were recruited from 12 day centers in Northern Spain. Participants underwent a neuropsychological battery, which evaluated Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), attention, processing speed, verbal fluency, visual and verbal memory, working memory, and executive functioning. Apathy was assessed by the Lille Apathy Rating Scale (LARS), which is composed of four factors: intellectual curiosity, emotion, action initiation, and self-awareness. Correlation and linear regression analyses were performed. RESULTS In the correlational analysis, the LARS total score correlated negatively with global cognition, verbal fluency, and visual and verbal memory. The intellectual curiosity factor correlated negatively with all cognitive domains except attention. The emotion factor correlated negatively with visual memory. No correlation was found between the action initiation and self-awareness factors or any of the cognitive variables. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that symptoms of apathy explained cognitive performance in attention, processing speed, verbal fluency, visual and verbal memory, working memory, executive functioning, and MMSE. CONCLUSIONS Apathy was significantly associated with cognitive performance, especially with the intellectual curiosity factor. Our results suggest that specific symptoms of apathy contribute differently to individual cognitive domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genoveva Montoya‐Murillo
- Department of Methods and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and EducationUniversity of DeustoBilbaoSpain
| | - Naroa Ibarretxe‐Bilbao
- Department of Methods and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and EducationUniversity of DeustoBilbaoSpain
| | - Javier Peña
- Department of Methods and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and EducationUniversity of DeustoBilbaoSpain
| | - Natalia Ojeda
- Department of Methods and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and EducationUniversity of DeustoBilbaoSpain
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Yıldırım E, Soncu Büyükişcan E, Gürvit H. Affective theory of mind in human aging: is there any relation with executive functioning? AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2019; 27:207-219. [PMID: 30994403 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2019.1602706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Theory of Mind (ToM) refers to the ability to make inferences on other's mental or emotional states. Although there is evidence suggesting that impaired executive functions due to aging could have a negative impact on cognitive ToM, there is still controversy about the effect of age and age-related executive dysfunctions on affective ToM. To investigate affective ToM in healthy aging and its relationship with executive functions, we examined Reading Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) performance and executive functions among young and older adults. There was no significant difference between age groups regarding their RMET scores. While affective ToM was correlated to executive functioning within the younger group, short term memory was found to be associated with RMET performance among older participants. Furthermore, within the older group, women performed better than men. Our findings suggest a preserved ability of affective ToM in healthy aging, which appears to be independent of executive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Yıldırım
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology, Işık University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ezgi Soncu Büyükişcan
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Hakan Gürvit
- Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Behavioral Neurology and Movement Disorders Unit, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Calso C, Besnard J, Allain P. Frontal Lobe Functions in Normal Aging: Metacognition, Autonomy, and Quality of Life. Exp Aging Res 2019; 45:10-27. [PMID: 30707658 DOI: 10.1080/0361073x.2018.1560105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Starting from the "frontal lobe hypothesis of cognitive aging", we aim to study the metacognitive functions (deception, reciprocity, cognitive and affective theory of mind), autonomy and quality of life in normal aging. METHODS Eighty healthy subjects (30 young adults [YA] aged 20-40, 30 old adults [OA] aged 65-79 and 20 very old adults [VOA] aged 80 and over) participated in our study. Standard and novel neuropsychological tasks have been used, assessing abilities to understand others' mental and affective states, deceptive and cooperative situations. RESULTS OA and VOA's performances are significantly poorer than those of YA on first-/second-order false beliefs, deception, reciprocity and emotion recognition tasks. VOA have made more errors than other participants on control false beliefs, general cognition, and memory tasks. Normal aging seems also to be characterized by a reduction in processing speed. The level of instrumental activities of daily living decreases with aging. Theory of mind is associated with individual general cognitive state and executive functions, but not with OA and VOA's levels of autonomy and quality of life. CONCLUSION In this study, we have shown an age-related deterioration of metacognitive functions, which does not seem to be associated with old adults' autonomy and satisfaction of life. A good level of mental activity could be necessary to maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Calso
- a Laboratoire de psychologie des Pays de la Loire (EA 4638) , Université d'Angers, Maison de la recherche Germaine-Tillion , Angers , France.,b Unité Transversale de Recherche Psychogenèse et Psychopathologie. Cliniques, psychopathologie et psychanalyse (EA 4403) , Université Paris 13-Sorbonne Paris Cité , Villetaneuse , France
| | - Jérémy Besnard
- a Laboratoire de psychologie des Pays de la Loire (EA 4638) , Université d'Angers, Maison de la recherche Germaine-Tillion , Angers , France
| | - Philippe Allain
- a Laboratoire de psychologie des Pays de la Loire (EA 4638) , Université d'Angers, Maison de la recherche Germaine-Tillion , Angers , France.,c Unité de neuropsychologie, département de neurologie , CHU d'Angers , Angers , France
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Frazier I, Lighthall NR, Horta M, Perez E, Ebner NC. CISDA: Changes in Integration for Social Decisions in Aging. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. COGNITIVE SCIENCE 2019; 10:e1490. [PMID: 30605250 DOI: 10.1002/wcs.1490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The aging of our population has been accompanied by increasing concerns about older adults' vulnerability to violations of trust and a growing interest in normative age-related changes to decision making involving social partners. This intersection has spurred research on age-related neurocognitive and affective changes underlying social decision making. Based on our review and synthesis of this literature, we propose a specification that targets social decision making in aging to the recently proposed Affect-Integration-Motivation (AIM) framework. Our framework specification, Changes in Integration for Social Decisions in Aging (CISDA), emphasizes three key components of value integration with particular relevance for social decisions in aging: theory of mind, emotion regulation, and memory for past experience. CISDA builds on converging research from economic decision making, cognitive neuroscience, and lifespan development to outline how age-related changes to neurocognition and behavior impact social decision making. We conclude with recommendations for future research based on CISDA's predictions, including implications for the development of interventions to enhance social decision outcomes in older adults. This article is categorized under: Economics > Individual Decision Making Psychology > Reasoning and Decision Making Psychology > Development and Aging Neuroscience > Cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Frazier
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | | | - Marilyn Horta
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Eliany Perez
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Natalie C Ebner
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.,Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.,Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.,Florida Institute for Cybersecurity Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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Zhang X, Lecce S, Ceccato I, Cavallini E, Zhang L, Chen T. Plasticity in older adults' theory of mind performance: the impact of motivation. Aging Ment Health 2018; 22:1592-1599. [PMID: 28885057 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2017.1376313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Recently, motivation has been found to attenuate the age-related decline in Theory of Mind (ToM) performance (i.e. faux pas recognition). However, whether or not this effect could be generalized to other ToM tasks is still unknown. In the present study, we investigated whether and how motivation could enhance older adults' performance and reduce age differences in ToM tasks (Faux Pas vs. Animation task) that differ in familiarity. METHOD Following a previous paradigm, 171 Chinese adults (87 younger adults and 84 older adults) were recruited, and we experimentally manipulated the level of perceived closeness between participants and the experimenter before administering the ToM tasks in order to enhance participants' motivation. RESULTS Results showed that, for the Faux Pas task, we replicated previous findings such that older adults under the enhanced motivation conditions performed equally well as younger adults. Conversely, for the Animation task, younger adults outperformed older adults, regardless of motivation. DISCUSSION These results indicate that motivation can enhance older adults' performance in ToM tasks, however, this beneficial effect cannot be generalized across ToM tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhang
- a School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health , Peking University , Beijing , China
| | - Serena Lecce
- b Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences , University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy
| | - Irene Ceccato
- b Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences , University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy
| | - Elena Cavallini
- b Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences , University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy
| | - Linfang Zhang
- a School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health , Peking University , Beijing , China
| | - Tianyong Chen
- c Key Laboratory of Mental Health , Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing , China
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Stewart SLK, Wright C, Atherton C. Deception Detection and Truth Detection Are Dependent on Different Cognitive and Emotional Traits: An Investigation of Emotional Intelligence, Theory of Mind, and Attention. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN 2018; 45:794-807. [PMID: 30264653 DOI: 10.1177/0146167218796795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite evidence that variation exists between individuals in high-stakes truth and deception detection accuracy rates, little work has investigated what differences in individuals' cognitive and emotional abilities contribute to this variation. Our study addressed this question by examining the role played by cognitive and affective theory of mind (ToM), emotional intelligence (EI), and various aspects of attention (alerting, orienting, executive control) in explaining variation in accuracy rates among 115 individuals (87 women; mean age = 27.04 years [ SD = 11.32]) who responded to video clips of truth-tellers and liars in real-world, high-stakes contexts. Faster attentional alerting supported truth detection, and better cognitive ToM and perception of emotion (an aspect of EI) supported deception detection. This evidence indicates that truth and deception detection are distinct constructs supported by different abilities. Future research may address whether interventions targeting these cognitive and emotional traits can also contribute to improving detection skill.
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Lecce S, Ceccato I, Cavallini E. Investigating ToM in aging with the MASC: from accuracy to error type. AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2018; 26:541-557. [DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2018.1500996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Serena Lecce
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Irene Ceccato
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Elena Cavallini
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Wang Y, Metoki A, Alm KH, Olson IR. White matter pathways and social cognition. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 90:350-370. [PMID: 29684403 PMCID: PMC5993647 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
There is a growing consensus that social cognition and behavior emerge from interactions across distributed regions of the "social brain". Researchers have traditionally focused their attention on functional response properties of these gray matter networks and neglected the vital role of white matter connections in establishing such networks and their functions. In this article, we conduct a comprehensive review of prior research on structural connectivity in social neuroscience and highlight the importance of this literature in clarifying brain mechanisms of social cognition. We pay particular attention to three key social processes: face processing, embodied cognition, and theory of mind, and their respective underlying neural networks. To fully identify and characterize the anatomical architecture of these networks, we further implement probabilistic tractography on a large sample of diffusion-weighted imaging data. The combination of an in-depth literature review and the empirical investigation gives us an unprecedented, well-defined landscape of white matter pathways underlying major social brain networks. Finally, we discuss current problems in the field, outline suggestions for best practice in diffusion-imaging data collection and analysis, and offer new directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Wang
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, 19107, USA.
| | - Athanasia Metoki
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, 19107, USA
| | - Kylie H Alm
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, 19107, USA
| | - Ingrid R Olson
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, 19107, USA.
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Warrier V, Grasby KL, Uzefovsky F, Toro R, Smith P, Chakrabarti B, Khadake J, Mawbey-Adamson E, Litterman N, Hottenga JJ, Lubke G, Boomsma DI, Martin NG, Hatemi PK, Medland SE, Hinds DA, Bourgeron T, Baron-Cohen S. Genome-wide meta-analysis of cognitive empathy: heritability, and correlates with sex, neuropsychiatric conditions and cognition. Mol Psychiatry 2018; 23:1402-1409. [PMID: 28584286 PMCID: PMC5656177 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2016] [Revised: 04/08/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We conducted a genome-wide meta-analysis of cognitive empathy using the 'Reading the Mind in the Eyes' Test (Eyes Test) in 88,056 research volunteers of European Ancestry (44,574 females and 43,482 males) from 23andMe Inc., and an additional 1497 research volunteers of European Ancestry (891 females and 606 males) from the Brisbane Longitudinal Twin Study. We confirmed a female advantage on the Eyes Test (Cohen's d=0.21, P<2.2 × 10-16), and identified a locus in 3p26.1 that is associated with scores on the Eyes Test in females (rs7641347, Pmeta=1.58 × 10-8). Common single nucleotide polymorphisms explained 5.8% (95% CI: 4.5%-7.2%; P=1.00 × 10-17) of the total trait variance in both sexes, and we identified a twin heritability of 28% (95% CI: 13%-42%). Finally, we identified significant genetic correlation between the Eyes Test and anorexia nervosa, openness (NEO-Five Factor Inventory), and different measures of educational attainment and cognitive aptitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varun Warrier
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom,Corresponding authors: Varun Warrier () and Simon Baron-Cohen (). Autism Research Centre, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, United Kingdom. Telephone: 0044 (0) 1223 746057
| | | | - Florina Uzefovsky
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom,Department of Psychology, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
| | - Roberto Toro
- CNRS UMR 3571: Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France,Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Paris, France,Institut Pasteur, 5-28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Paula Smith
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Bhismadev Chakrabarti
- Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and Neurodynamics, School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Jyoti Khadake
- NIHR Cambridge BioResource, Cambridge University and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Eleanor Mawbey-Adamson
- NIHR Cambridge BioResource, Cambridge University and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nadia Litterman
- 23andMe Inc., 899 West Evelyn Ave, Mountain View, California 94041, USA
| | - Jouke-Jan Hottenga
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands,EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gitta Lubke
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands,Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, United States
| | - Dorret I Boomsma
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Peter K Hatemi
- Political Science, Microbiology and Biochemistry, Pennsylvania State University
| | - Sarah E Medland
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - David A Hinds
- 23andMe Inc., 899 West Evelyn Ave, Mountain View, California 94041, USA
| | - Thomas Bourgeron
- CNRS UMR 3571: Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France,Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Paris, France,Institut Pasteur, 5-28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom,CLASS Clinic, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT), Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom,Corresponding authors: Varun Warrier () and Simon Baron-Cohen (). Autism Research Centre, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, United Kingdom. Telephone: 0044 (0) 1223 746057
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