Investigating the neuropsychology of theory of mind and designing a new test of theory of mind in acquired brain injury

• Main Author: Martin, Christopher
• Published: University of Hull 2008
• Subjects: 617.481044; Clinical psychology
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.490066

In Part 1 the Literature on the Neuropsychology of Theory of Mind (ToM) was investigated in a Systematic Literature Review of scanning and Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) lesion studies. The quality of study methodologies and the tests used to assess ToM were evaluated, and findings about the brain regions implicated in ToM were summarised. The quality of some tests of ToM used in the literature was critiqued due to their failure to tap into all three components of a recent definition of ToM (Stone et al, 2003). The quality of the methodology of studies was also examined. Brain regions implicated in ToM according to the review included the frontal cortices, the temporal poles and the posterior cingulate.In Part 2 an Empirical Paper is presented. Many social problems are often evident after ABI and deficits in ToM have recently been discovered in ABI populations (Milders et al, 2006). ToM deficits may contribute to and help explain social difficulties such as finding social interactions hard. Few tests of ToM are widely used with individuals with ABI. A new video test of ToM was designed and piloted on non-brain injured participants and participants with ABI. There was a correlation with performance on the new test and an existing measure of ToM and participants with ABI scored significantly less highly on both tests of ToM. The new test shows promise and further research with the measure is recommended. The results also highlight the utility of routinely assessing social cognition after ABI.