The link between impaired theory of mind and executive function in children with cerebral palsy

Xiaoming Li; Kai Wang; Jianxian Wu; Yongfeng Hong; Jingpu Zhao; Xiaojun Feng; Mei Xu; Min Wang; Yamikani Ndasauka; Xiaochu Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2014.03.017

The link between impaired theory of mind and executive function in children with cerebral palsy

Res Dev Disabil. 2014 Jul;35(7):1686-93. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.03.017. Epub 2014 Mar 27.

Authors

Xiaoming Li¹, Kai Wang², Jianxian Wu³, Yongfeng Hong³, Jingpu Zhao³, Xiaojun Feng³, Mei Xu³, Min Wang⁴, Yamikani Ndasauka⁵, Xiaochu Zhang⁶

Affiliations

¹ CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function & Disease, and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui Province 230027, PR China; Department of Medical Psychology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230032, PR China. Electronic address: psyxiaoming@126.com.
² Department of Medical Psychology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230032, PR China.
³ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230032, PR China.
⁴ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230032, PR China.
⁵ School of Humanities & Social Science, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China.
⁶ CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function & Disease, and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui Province 230027, PR China; School of Humanities & Social Science, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China. Electronic address: zxcustc@ustc.edu.cn.

PMID: 24685096
DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.03.017

Abstract

The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between theory of mind (ToM) deficits and executive function (EF) impairments in children with cerebral palsy (CP), 42 CP with children and 42 typically developing (TD) children, acting as controls, were assessed on the tasks of ToM (false belief and faux pas) and EF (inhibition, updating and shifting). Results showed that CP children had deficits both in ToM and EF tasks. The correlation analyses showed that two EF components (inhibition and updating) were strongly related to false belief and faux pas in both two groups. We also found correlation between shifting and false belief and faux pas. However, this correlation was only found in TD children and not in children with CP. These findings suggest that children with CP lag behind TD children in both ToM and EF. Further, the results reveal, interestingly, that ToM deficits in CP children might be related to their inhibition and updating impairments, but not to shifting impairments.

Keywords: Cerebral palsy; Executive function; Theory of mind.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cerebral Palsy / diagnosis*
Cerebral Palsy / psychology*
Child
Executive Function*
Female
Humans
Male
Psychometrics
Reference Values
Statistics as Topic
Theory of Mind*
Wechsler Scales / statistics & numerical data