title: Training older adults on Theory of Mind (ToM): transfer on metamemory.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research on aging has shown a significant decline in ToM after 65 years of age. Despite these age-related difficulties, no study has yet investigated the possibility to improve ToM in older adults. To address this gap we tested the efficacy of a conversation-based ToM training with age-appropriate ToM tasks and its transfer effects on metamemory.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 72 older adults (Mage=67.61 years, SD=6.39 years) assigned to three training conditions: a ToM training, a physical-conversation training and a social-contact group. All participants took part in two 2-h testing and to two 2-h training sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that after the intervention, older adults in the ToM training group improved their mental states' understanding significantly more than participants in the physical-conversation training and in the social-contact groups. Crucially, the positive effect of the ToM intervention generalized to metamemory knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study investigating the efficacy of a ToM training and its transfer effect on metacognition in older adults. From a theoretical point of view, it supports the relation between ToM and metamemory. Practical implications of these data are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lecce
authors.affiliation: Brain Connectivity Center, National Neurological Institute C. Mondino, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bottiroli
authors.affiliation: Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.affiliation: Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosi
authors.affiliation: Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy. Electronic address: ecava@unipv.it.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cavallini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003142:Communication; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D012919:Social Behavior; D056345:Theory of Mind / Q000502:physiology*; D014937:Work
keywords: Aging; Mental states conversation; Metamemory; ToM training; Transfer effect