title: Theory of mind depends on domain-general executive functions of working memory and cognitive inhibition in children with traumatic brain injury.
abstract: Relations among theory of mind (ToM), the executive functions of working memory and cognitive inhibition, and frontal lesions were studied using path analysis in 43 school-aged children with traumatic brain injury. The relation between cognitive inhibition and ToM involved a single mediated path, such that cognitive inhibition predicted ToM through working memory. Frontal injury had a direct impact on working memory, which then separately determined ToM performance, the direct single paths between frontal injury and ToM being nonsignificant. The expression of ToM in school-age children with traumatic brain injury is not domain specific, but instead depends on the domain-general functions of working memory and cognitive inhibition.
authors.affiliation: Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. maureen.dennis@sickkids.ca
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agostino
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roncadin
authors.forename: Harvey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Levin
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D056345:Theory of Mind / Q000502:physiology*