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Components of Advance Theory of Mind in Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders

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In the study of social cognition, the routes to understand others are subserved by separable, independent brain networks. Theory of mind (ToM) otherwise been referred to as “mentalizing” or “mind reading” constitutes one of the neuropsychological mechanisms, providing the understanding of someone else’s thoughts or intentions. However, within this concept as a whole, have been identified distinct components of ToM accounting for the appreciation of the socio-affective and socio-cognitive information (Shamay-Tsoory et al. 2002; Hynes et al. 2006). Cognitive ToM reflects the understanding of someone’s beliefs, while affective ToM requires the empathic appreciation of someone’s emotional state.

Several mechanisms of atypical ToM are associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (Cantio et al. 2016; Happé et al. 2017) converting its measurement into a clinically relevant feature that may explain and mitigate social difficulties in ASD population.

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  1. Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Psychopathology and Neuropsychology Research Unit, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Tereza-Maria Booules-Katri & Jordi E. Obiols

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  1. Tereza-Maria Booules-Katri
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  2. Jordi E. Obiols
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Correspondence to Tereza-Maria Booules-Katri .

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  1. Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar

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Booules-Katri, TM., Obiols, J.E. (2019). Components of Advance Theory of Mind in Autism Spectrum Disorder. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102406-1

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