The role of executive functions in older adults' affective theory of mind

Executive function (EF) has three subsystems: inhibition, updating, and shifting. Of these three, only inhibition is considered to be involved in affective theory of mind (ToM). This study investigated whether inhibition remains the sole driver for affective ToM in the three EF subsystems in older adults as well as in young people without functional reorganization via aging within EF.

Through hierarchical multiple regression analysis, we examined how these three subsystems affect older participants' performance in the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), a measure of affective ToM, after determining the effect of domain-specific cognitive (nonverbal and verbal) abilities.

We found that only inhibition influenced the participants' performance in the RMET, with effects from nonverbal (fluid) ability but not from verbal ability.

Results showed that inhibition continues to be essential for affective ToM after aging decline, and functional reorganization via aging is less likely to occur within EF.