Theory of Mind Performance in Broad Autism Phenotype Groups: Between-Group Differences and Predictor Variables

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Theory of Mind (ToM) is crucial for social interaction.
• Understanding ToM differences in the broad autism phenotype (BAP) is important for targeted interventions.
• Cognitive and affective ToM components may be differentially affected in BAP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate between-group differences in cognitive and affective ToM between BAP and non-BAP individuals.
• To identify predictors of cognitive ToM within BAP and non-BAP groups.
• To explore the relationship between emotion recognition and cognitive ToM in BAP.

Main Methods:

• Participants included a BAP group (n=45) and a non-BAP group (n=102).
• Cognitive ToM was assessed using the unexpected outcomes test (UOT).
• Affective ToM was assessed using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET).
• Stepwise regression was used to identify predictors of UOT performance.

Main Results:

• The BAP group performed significantly worse than the non-BAP group on the UOT.
• No significant group differences were found on the RMET.
• RMET scores best predicted UOT performance in the BAP group.
• Block design scores best predicted UOT performance in the non-BAP group.
• BAP traits did not mediate the relationship between RMET and UOT.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with BAP show deficits in cognitive ToM, specifically in understanding unexpected outcomes.
• Emotion recognition abilities (RMET) may be over-relied upon by individuals with BAP in cognitive ToM tasks.
• Predictors of cognitive ToM differ between BAP and non-BAP individuals, highlighting distinct cognitive profiles.