[Social cognition and theory of mind assessment in non-demented patients with isolated cerebellar degeneration].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the cerebellum could participate in social cognition (SC).


METHODS
General neuropsychological tests, executive tests (EF), social cognition tests, which assess the ability to infer other peoples mental states, and the Beck Depression Inventory were given to 10 non-demented patients with isolated cerebellar degenerative disease, and to 10 healthy controls matched for sex, age, and years of education. ANOVA and correlation coefficients were employed for the statistical analysis.


RESULTS
Patients within the cerebellar group were significantly impaired (p<or=0.05) in EF test [Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WSCT)] and belief questions (BQ) from Theory of Mind (ToM) tests. Performance in control questions (CQ) from ToM tests was similar for both groups. Lower scores in BQ correlated with a lower conceptual ability, the severity of apathy (NPI) and static ataxia. CQ correlated with measures of attention and free recall.


CONCLUSIONS
The cerebellum may contribute in the control of social behavior through the processing of multimodal data, motor, cognitive and emotional.
Abel
Carlos G
CG
Departamento de Neurología, Hospital Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires, Argentina. dakar58@arnet.com.ar
Stein
Gustavo
G
Galarregui
Marina
M
Garretto
Nélida
N
Mangone
Carlos
C
Genovese
Osvaldo
O
Allegri
Ricardo F
RF
Sica
Roberto E P
RE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception