On the relation between theory of mind and executive functioning: A developmental cognitive neuroscience perspective

Abstract

Theory of mind (ToM) and executive functioning (EF) show marked interrelatedness across childhood, and developmental psychologists have long been interested in understanding the nature of this association. The present review addresses this issue from a cognitive neuroscience perspective by exploring three hypotheses regarding their functional overlap: (1) ToM relies on EF (EF→ToM); (2) EF relies on ToM (ToM→EF); and (3) ToM and EF are mutually related, owing to shared neural structures or networks (ToM↔EF). Drawing on evidence from normative brain development, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, patient lesion studies, and brain-imaging studies, we suggest that only a strict version of the ToM↔EF proposal of complete neural overlap can be confidently ruled out on the basis of existing evidence. The balance of evidence suggests that separable neurobiological mechanisms likely underlie ToM and EF, with shared mechanisms for domain-general processing that support both abilities. We highlight how future studies may empirically substantiate the nature of the ToM-EF relationship using various biobehavioral approaches.

Impaired empathy but no theory of mind deficits in adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

“…Wade et al (2018) summarized that the different ToM abilities are related to areas such as the bilateral temporoparietal junction (the inferior parietal lobule at the junction with the posterior temporal cortex), medial prefrontal cortex (including the anterior paracingulate cortex), precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex (including anterior paracingulate cortex), and sulcus temporalis superior/middle temporal gyrus. Wade et al (2018) summarized that the different ToM abilities are related to areas such as the bilateral temporoparietal junction (the inferior parietal lobule at the junction with the posterior temporal cortex), medial prefrontal cortex (including the anterior paracingulate cortex), precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex (including anterior paracingulate cortex), and sulcus temporalis superior/middle temporal gyrus.…”

“…Screening and lesion studies in these patient groups have also helped to identify underlying neuronal networks ascribed to ToM and executive functions. Wade et al (2018) (Wade et al, 2018). The authors concluded that ToM skills and executive capabilities are based on partially overlapping networks comprising the medial prefrontal cortex, inferior parietal lobule, temporoparietal junction, and inferior frontal gyrus.…”

Resting-State Functional Correlates of Social Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis: An Explorative Study

“…Therefore, the aim of our explorative study is to fill the above-mentioned knowledge gap by assessing the contribution of RS functional connectivity (RS-FC) abnormalities to social cognition in patients with MS. Since some studies report an association between social cognition and cognitive abilities, both in healthy (Apperly et al, 2009;Wade et al, 2018) and in MS patients (Raimo et al, 2017), we explored RS networks mainly associated with high-level cognitive and/or social abilities: (1) the default mode network (DMN), which actively supports several aspects of cognition, like working memory, memory retrieval, or divergent thinking (Spreng, 2012;Murphy et al, 2018);…”

Aggression in toddlerhood: The roles of parental beliefs, parenting behavior and precursors of theory of mind

“…For example, it should be noted that toddlerhood is characterized by the development of other aspects of cognitive development, such as executive functioning (Garon, Bryson, & Smith, ). Neuroimaging studies show that brain regions involved in theory of mind, such as the medial prefrontal cortex and temporo‐parietal junction, show substantial overlap with brain regions engaged in executive functioning (Rothmayr et al, ; Wade, Prime, et al, ). The simultaneous investigation of multiple aspects of early cognitive development in relation to children's brain development, parental beliefs, parenting behavior, and social development is an important challenge for future studies.…”