Disentangling the role of executive function and episodic memory in older adults' performance on dynamic theory of mind tasks.

IF 1.6 4区 心理学 Q3 PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition Pub Date : 2025-03-14 DOI:10.1080/13825585.2025.2476586
Anne C Krendl
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Abstract

Theory of mind is a core social cognitive ability, and declines over the lifespan. Prior work examining the mechanisms underlying older adults' theory of mind deficits has yielded heterogenous results. One reason for this might be a general reliance on static, rather than dynamic, stimuli. Because dynamic measures may best capture everyday theory of mind engagement, the current study examined whether executive function and/or episodic memory - the primary mechanisms examined in prior work - predicted older adults' static and dynamic theory of mind performance. In Study 1, 153 older adults completed traditional static measures of theory of mind (false belief task, Reading the Mind in the Eyes) and a dynamic theory of mind measure that captured multiple domains of theory of mind (e.g. inferring beliefs, understanding emotions). They also completed comprehensive measures of executive function and episodic memory. Episodic memory, but not executive function, predicted theory of mind performance across tasks. In Study 2, 124 different older adults completed two novel dynamic tasks, and the same cognitive measures from Study 1. The first dynamic task was similar to the Study 1, but was relatively unfamiliar. In the second task, older adults made continuous (e.g. dynamic) awkwardness ratings while watching a video. This task reduces ceiling effects, a frequent limitation of theory of mind research. Replicating the results in Study 1, episodic memory, but not executive function, predicted older adults' performance on both tasks. Together, these findings suggest that episodic memory ability predicts older adults' static and dynamic theory of mind performance.

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来源期刊
CiteScore
4.30
自引率
5.30%
发文量
52
期刊介绍: The purposes of Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition are to (a) publish research on both the normal and dysfunctional aspects of cognitive development in adulthood and aging, and (b) promote the integration of theories, methods, and research findings between the fields of cognitive gerontology and neuropsychology. The primary emphasis of the journal is to publish original empirical research. Occasionally, theoretical or methodological papers, critical reviews of a content area, or theoretically relevant case studies will also be published.
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