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Theory of Mind in Children with Traumatic Brain Injury

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 July 2012

Maureen Dennis ,
Nevena Simic ,
H. Gerry Taylor ,
Erin D. Bigler ,
Kenneth Rubin ,
Kathryn Vannatta ,
Cynthia A. Gerhardt ,
Terry Stancin ,
Caroline Roncadin  and
Keith Owen Yeates
Maureen Dennis*
Affiliation:
Program in Neuroscience & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
Nevena Simic
Affiliation:
Program in Neuroscience & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
H. Gerry Taylor
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Erin D. Bigler
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
Kenneth Rubin
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
Kathryn Vannatta
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
Cynthia A. Gerhardt
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
Terry Stancin
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio Department of Psychiatry, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Caroline Roncadin
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, Peel Children's Centre, Mississauga, Ontario
Keith Owen Yeates
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Maureen Dennis, Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON. Canada, M5G 1X8. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Theory of mind (ToM) involves thinking about mental states and intentions to understand what other people know and to predict how they will act. We studied ToM in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and age- and gender-matched children with orthopedic injuries (OI), using a new three-frame Jack and Jill cartoon task that measures intentional thinking separate from contingent task demands. In the key ToM trials, which required intentional thinking, Jack switched a black ball from one hat to another of a different color, but Jill did not witness the switch; in the otherwise identical non-ToM trials, the switch was witnessed. Overall accuracy was higher in children with OI than in those with TBI. Children with severe TBI showed a larger decline in accuracy on ToM trials, suggesting a specific deficit in ToM among children with severe TBI. Accuracy was significantly higher on trials following errors than on trials following correct responses, suggesting that all groups monitored performance and responded to errors with increased vigilance. TBI is associated with poorer intentional processing in school-age children and adolescents relative to peers with OI; furthermore, children with TBI are challenged specifically by intentional demands, especially when their injury is severe. (JINS, 2012, 19, 1–9)

Keywords

IntentionalityChildhood head injuryGlasgow Coma ScaleSocial cognitionSocial problem solvingError monitoring
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 18 , Issue 5 , September 2012 , pp. 908 - 916
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2012

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