title: Brief Report: Theory of Mind, Relational Reasoning, and Social Responsiveness in Children With and Without Autism: Demonstration of Feasibility for a Larger-Scale Study.
abstract: Understanding the underpinnings of social responsiveness and theory of mind (ToM) will enhance our knowledge of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We hypothesize that higher-order relational reasoning (higher-order RR: reasoning necessitating integration of relationships among multiple variables) is necessary but not sufficient for ToM, and that social responsiveness varies independently of higher-order RR. A pilot experiment tested these hypotheses in n = 17 children, 3-14, with and without ASD. No child failing 2nd-order RR passed a false belief ToM test. Contrary to prediction, Social Responsiveness Scale scores did correlate with 2nd-order RR performance, likely due to sample characteristics. It is feasible to translate this comparative cognition-inspired line of inquiry for full-scale studies of ToM, higher-order RR, and social responsiveness in ASD.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave, Campus Box 8134, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA, pruettj@psychiatry.wustl.edu.
authors: John R
authors: JR
authors: Pruett
authors: Sridhar
authors: S
authors: Kandala
authors: Steven E
authors: SE
authors: Petersen
authors: Daniel J
authors: DJ
authors: Povinelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D032882:Comprehension; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012919:Social Behavior; D056345:Theory of Mind; D013850:Thinking
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