Computerized LEXTOMM Battery (Language, EXecutive functions, Theory Of Mind, episodic Memory)

We present a computerize battery constructed to evaluate behavioral performances for language, declarative memory, executive functions and social cognition abilities. This battery was created to evaluate cognitive outcomes in adults who underwent hemispherotomy as a clinical treatment of Rasmussen Encephalitis (RE) in their childhood and have been tested in a group of healthy participants (n= 88). LEXTOMM battery can be used for cognitive assessment of any type of population and allow the collection of behavioral performances in terms of accuracy and reaction times. LEXTOMM battery is composed of six language tasks allowing to assess six different linguistic abilities such as lexical storage, semantics, phonology, syntax, prosody perception and production. Different input modalities are proposed for these tasks (picture, written and auditory modality). A specific task allowing the assessment of the language generation and declarative memory interaction is also proposed. The battery also included a visual control categorization task is proposed in order to assess decision-making baseline. Moreover, LEXTOMM also includes four tasks allowing the assessment of the executive functions. More specifically we included tasks allowing the evaluation of four executive processes: updating in working memory, switching/flexibility, sustained attention and inhibition. Finally, the battery includes a theory of mind abilities task. All tasks were developed using the E-Prime 3.0 software (E-Prime Psychology Software Tools Inc., Pittsburgh, USA), running on a PC. Before each task, a training session is included, with several stimuli that differ from those presented during the experiment. This training allows participants to understand the instructions and get familiarized with each task. Hereafter, we describe the procedures and tasks included in LEXTOMM, in the following order: low-level visual categorization, language, language in interaction with declarative memory, executive functions and social cognition/theory of mind.

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Exploring Influences on Theory of Mind Impairment in Opioid Dependent Patients

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.721690 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Katharina Eidenmueller ◽

Franz Grimm ◽

Derik Hermann ◽

Ulrich Frischknecht ◽

Christiane Montag ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Social Cognition ◽

Theory Of Mind ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Childhood Maltreatment ◽

Influential Factors ◽

Control Group ◽

Related Factors ◽

Childhood Trauma Questionnaire ◽

Addictive Disorders

Theory of mind (ToM) is an aspect of social cognition impaired in different addictive disorders, including opioid addiction. This study aimed at replicating ToM deficits in opioid dependent patients undergoing opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) and exploring the influence of substance use related variables, executive functions and childhood maltreatment on ToM in opioid dependent patients. 66 opioid dependent patients were tested using the Movie for Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC) and compared with the data of healthy controls. Furthermore, the opioid dependent patients underwent testing for executive functions and filled in the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Performance on the MASC was significantly poorer in the opioid dependence group than in the control group, even when recent additional drug use and psychiatric comorbidities were controlled for. No correlations were found between ToM and substance use related factors. Aspects of ToM performance in opioid dependent patients correlated significantly with different EF domains. ToM correlated significantly with the CTQ scales for physical maltreatment. The results confirm impaired ToM in opioid dependent patients and highlight executive functions and childhood maltreatment as influential factors. The lack of associations between ToM and substance use related variables and the association with childhood maltreatment suggest that ToM impairments might be a risk factor predating substance abuse.

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Are Deficits in Social Cognition Linked to Autobiographical Memory in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease?

Zeitschrift für Neuropsychologie ◽

10.1024/1016-264x/a000187 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 257-264 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Johannes H. Scheidemann ◽

Franz Petermann ◽

Marc Schipper

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Social Cognition ◽

Theory Of Mind ◽

Autobiographical Memory ◽

Positive Relationship ◽

Neuropsychological Test ◽

Clinical Group ◽

Neuropsychological Test Battery ◽

Fluency Task

Abstract. We investigated theory of mind (ToM) deficits in Alzheimer‘s disease (AD) and its possible connection to autobiographical memory (ABM). Patients and matched controls were evaluated and compared using a video-based ToM test, an autobiographical fluency task, and a neuropsychological test battery. We found that ToM deficits were positively associated with semantic ABM in the clinical group, whereas a positive relationship appeared between ToM and episodic ABM in controls. We hypothesize that this reflects the course of the disease as well as that semantic ABM is used for ToM processing, being still accessible in AD. Furthermore, we assume that it is also less efficient, which in turn leads to a specific deficit profile of social cognition.

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Cognición social en niños con trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad: una revisión narrativa de la literatura

Archivos de Neurociencias ◽

10.31157/archneurosciencesmex.v24i2.177 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 43-58

Author(s):

Ma. Guillermina Yáñez-Téllez ◽

Daniel Hernández-Torres

Keyword(s):

Social Cognition ◽

Theory Of Mind ◽

Emotion Recognition ◽

Pragmatic Language ◽

Affective Prosody ◽

Palabras Clave

Los niños con trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad (TDAH) presentan problemas en la interacción social, los cuales pueden ser atribuidos a deficiencias en la cognición social (CS), no obstante, esta función ha sido poco estudiada en esta población. El objetivo de este trabajo fue realizar una revisión de la literatura de los últimos 18 años acerca de la CS en niños con TDAH, en los subdominios de teoría de la mente, reconocimiento de emociones en rostros, lenguaje pragmático y prosodia afectiva. Se realizó una búsqueda en las bases de datos PubMed y Scopus, combinando las siguientes palabras clave: “ADHD”, “social cognition”, “theory of mind”, “emotion recognition”, “pragmatic language” y “affective prosody”. Se seleccionaron artículos desde el 2000 hasta el 2018. El reconocimiento de emociones en rostros es el déficit en CS más reportado, encontrándose fallas en la comprensión de gestos de miedo, tristeza, felicidad y enojo, aunque no de manera consistente. Asimismo, se reportan deficiencias en la teoría de la mente, principalmente en la referencia social, entendimiento de emociones básicas, metarrepresentaciones, inferencias de segundo orden y comprensión de juicios sociales complejos.

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Depressive Traits and Theory of Mind in Healthy Individuals: A Mediation Study

10.31237/osf.io/ndjcr ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Nicholas James Rowark

Keyword(s):

Theory Of Mind ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Executive Control ◽

Statistical Power ◽

Social Cognitive ◽

Clinical Sample ◽

Small Sample ◽

Future Research ◽

Healthy Individuals ◽

Prepotent Response

Depression has been associated with poor social cognitive functioning, including impaired performance on measures of theory of mind. However, the association between depression and theory of mind performance has been removed when controlling for differences in executive functioning, which is also impacted by depression. Among these executive functions, inhibition of prepotent response has been demonstrated as enabling success on theory of mind tests. In the context of these findings, the current investigation tested whether a relationship could be found between depressive traits and theory of mind in a non-clinical sample, and whether this relationship was mediated by differences in executive control of inhibition. Theory of mind was assessed in 31 healthy individuals using an audio-presented false-belief reasoning task, which also tested baseline performance in non-mental-state reasoning. Inhibition of prepotent response was assessed with interference measures on a Stroop colour-word task, and depressive traits were self-reported through the second version of the Beck Depression Inventory. Mediation analysis revealed that executive control of inhibition did not significantly mediate an indirect effect of depressive traits on theory of mind. It was interpreted that relationships previously found between major depression, executive and social-cognitive functions do not generalise beyond clinical boundaries. However, these findings are discussed in terms of the small sample size, limiting statistical power, and several methodological limitations. Future research should assess the relationship between depressive traits and theory of mind using alternative measures of mental representation, or include a neurocognitive battery assessing executive functions other than inhibition.

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THE PERCEPTION OF ARABIC VOWEL DURATION BY L1 HEBREW SPEAKERS

Studies in Second Language Acquisition ◽

10.1017/s0272263120000728 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-21

Author(s):

Yael Zaltz ◽

Osnat Segal

Keyword(s):

Training Session ◽

Reaction Times ◽

Discrimination Performance ◽

Theoretical Models ◽

Vowel Duration ◽

Arabic Speakers ◽

Native Arabic Speakers ◽

Phonological Contrasts ◽

Practical Implications ◽

Phonological System

Abstract The acquisition of a second language (L2) may be challenging in adulthood, as the phonological system of the native language (L1) can sometimes limit the perception of phonological contrasts in L2. The present study aimed to (a) examine the influence of an L1 (Hebrew) that lacks a phonemic contrast for vowel length on the ability to discriminate between short and long vowels in L2 (Arabic); and (b) assess the effect of a short training on the participants’ discrimination performance. A total of 60 participants, 20 native Arabic speakers and 40 native Hebrew speakers, were tested using the ABX procedure in two sessions that were 10 days apart. A single training session was provided for half of the Hebrew speakers (n = 20) approximately 2–3 days after the first (pretraining) testing session. The results indicated that the trained Hebrew participants’ discrimination levels (measured by accuracy and reaction times) were above chance level but were nevertheless lower in comparison to the Arabic speakers. However, a short training session was sufficient to yield a nativelike performance that generalized to untrained nonwords. These findings support the theoretical models that predict a reserved ability to acquire new phonetic/phonological cues in L2 and have important practical implications for the process of learning a new phonological system in adulthood.

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Self-serving social strategies: A systematic review of social cognition in narcissism

Current Psychology ◽

10.1007/s12144-021-01661-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Clare M. Eddy

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Social Cognition ◽

Theory Of Mind ◽

Emotion Recognition ◽

Cognitive Skills ◽

Cognitive Empathy ◽

Clinical Samples ◽

Social Strategies ◽

Concurrent Administration ◽

Narcissistic Personality

AbstractNarcissistic Personality Disorder is characterised by inflated self-importance, an excessive need for admiration, and a lack of empathy. The interpersonal difficulties associated with narcissistic personality may be becoming more widespread given its increasing prevalence within the general population. This systematic review investigated the relationship between narcissistic personality traits and social cognition (i.e. theory of mind; emotion recognition; empathy; emotional intelligence) in clinical and non-clinical samples. Cognitive empathy (i.e. perspective taking) appears unlikely to be impaired, while affective empathy (relating to another’s emotion state) may be reduced in association with narcissism. Those with grandiose narcissism rate their empathic skills more highly than those with vulnerable narcissism, but concurrent administration of objective measures is rare, limiting insight into the validity of self-ratings. Rather than deficits in aspects of social cognition, the overall pattern could reflect motivation, or advantageous use of social cognitive skills to serve the self. Indeed, interpersonal strategies associated with narcissism (e.g. deception; manipulation) suggest the application of understanding another’s beliefs or desires in the context of low empathy. Further research should seek to explore performance on a wider range of emotion recognition and theory of mind tasks, and whether characteristics such as excessive jealousy and paranoia could reflect hyper-mentalizing.

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Habilidades de Mindfulness y Cognición Social en la predicción de la sintomatología afectiva en Esquizofrenia, Trastorno Obsesivo-Compulsivo y controles sanos

Revista de Psicopatología y Psicología Clínica ◽

10.5944/rppc.24170 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Manuel González-Panzano ◽

Luis Borao ◽

Paola Herrera-Mercadal ◽

Daniel Campos ◽

Yolanda López-del-Hoyo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Cognition ◽

Theory Of Mind ◽

Attributional Style ◽

Short Form ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Mindful Attention Awareness Scale

Abstract: Mindfulness and social cognition skills in the prediction of affective symptomatology in schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder and nonclinical participants. The aim of the study was to investigate significant predictors of affective symptomatology in schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder and healthy controls. The sample was of 91 participants who completed the following instruments: the Eye Test (emotional recognition), the Hinting Task (theory of mind), the Ambiguous Intentions and Hostility Questionnaire(AIHQ; attributional style), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI; empathy), the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS; mindfulness trait), the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form(FFMQ-SF), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS). Significant predictors of affective symptomatology were: mindfulness (dispositional or trait mindfulness, nonreactivity and nonjudgment), and social cognition (SC) (attributional style and theory of mind). Mediation analysis showed that theory of mind was the only significant mediator of affective symptomatology. This paper shows the role of mindfulness and SC skills in the prediction of affective symptomatology.Keywords: mindfulness, social cognition, theory of mind, affective symptomatology, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder.Resumen:El objetivo del estudio fue investigar predictores significativos de sintomatología afectiva en Esquizofrenia (EZ), trastorno obsesivo compulsivo (TOC) y controles no clínicos. La muestra fue de 91 participantes que completaron los siguientes instrumentos: Eyes Test (reconocimiento emocional), Hinting Task (teoría de la mente), Ambiguous Intentions and Hostility Questionnaire (AIHQ; estilo atribucional), Índice de Reactividad Interpersonal (IRI; empatía), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS;mindfulness rasgo), Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form (FFMQ-SF), y Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).Los resultados mostraron que el mindfulness (mindfulness rasgo, no reactividad y no juicio) y la cognición social (estilo atribucional y teoría de la mente) fueron predictores significativos. Los análisis de mediación señalaron la variable de teoría de la mente, como único mediador significativo de la sintomatología afectiva.Los resultados de este estudio señalan el papel de las habilidades de mindfulness y cognición social en la predicción de sintomatología afectiva.Palabras clave: mindfulness, cognición social, teoría de la mente, sintomatología afectiva, esquizofrenia, trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo.

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