The theory of mind (ToM) is the main component of social cognition that allows us to explain and predict the behavior of others through the attribution of mental states - beliefs, intentions, desires, emotions, acquaintances - to themselves and to others. Behavioral and neuroimaging studies have made it possible to differentiate two specific components of the ToM: an 'affective' component that refers to our ability to infer the emotions felt by others, and a 'cognitive' component that refers to our ability to make inferences about thoughts, beliefs and intentions of other people. Therefore, an efficient ToM is central to adequately act in the environment and to interact with others.
Deficits of ToM abilities have been found as a consequence of brain and peripheral nervous system injury in several clinical conditions (e.g., Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, multiple sclerosis) and in elderly as a consequence of aging.
However, several questions remain open on the specific neural and neuropsychological correlates of the different components of ToM, and about the putative improvement of these abilities both in elderly and in patients affected by different clinical conditions.
The goal of this Research Topic is to welcome the most recent and advanced research on Theory of Mind, to better understand its characteristics and its recovery possibilities in elderly and in different clinical populations.
We accept empirical articles, theoretical proposals, or scientific reviews that can provide significant new insights about Theory of Mind, its neural and neuropsychological correlates, and about the rehabilitation of these abilities in several clinical conditions, particularly movement disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, and in elderly. Special attention will be paid to new insights on the implementation of the artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of Theory of Mind and its potential impact in rehabilitation research.
The theory of mind (ToM) is the main component of social cognition that allows us to explain and predict the behavior of others through the attribution of mental states - beliefs, intentions, desires, emotions, acquaintances - to themselves and to others. Behavioral and neuroimaging studies have made it possible to differentiate two specific components of the ToM: an 'affective' component that refers to our ability to infer the emotions felt by others, and a 'cognitive' component that refers to our ability to make inferences about thoughts, beliefs and intentions of other people. Therefore, an efficient ToM is central to adequately act in the environment and to interact with others.
Deficits of ToM abilities have been found as a consequence of brain and peripheral nervous system injury in several clinical conditions (e.g., Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, multiple sclerosis) and in elderly as a consequence of aging.
However, several questions remain open on the specific neural and neuropsychological correlates of the different components of ToM, and about the putative improvement of these abilities both in elderly and in patients affected by different clinical conditions.
The goal of this Research Topic is to welcome the most recent and advanced research on Theory of Mind, to better understand its characteristics and its recovery possibilities in elderly and in different clinical populations.
We accept empirical articles, theoretical proposals, or scientific reviews that can provide significant new insights about Theory of Mind, its neural and neuropsychological correlates, and about the rehabilitation of these abilities in several clinical conditions, particularly movement disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, and in elderly. Special attention will be paid to new insights on the implementation of the artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of Theory of Mind and its potential impact in rehabilitation research.