Executive Dysfunction Partially Underlies Deficits in Theory of Mind
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does Executive Dysfunction Partially Underlie Theory of Mind Deficits in Adults Following Stroke?
IRAS ID
190942
Contact name
Isaac Akande
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Salomons Centre for Applied Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The proposed project aims to investigate whether executive dysfunction underlies deficits in verbal and non-verbal theory of mind difficulties sometimes associated with stroke. Theory of mind is a way of describing a person’s capacity to process their thoughts and feelings, and those of others (Premack & Woodruff, 1978). As executive function is an umbrella term for cognitive abilities that allow for appropriate responses during unfamiliar situations (Strauss, Sherman, & Spreen, 2006), there may be specific executive functions or processes that are associated with theory of mind performance. For the project, executive tests have been selected thought to tap the various executive components proposed by Miyake et al.’s (2000) model (i.e., updating, shifting and inhibition) with both verbal and nonverbal versions of the executive constructs administered.
Many studies have found that people experience problems with theory of mind following stroke (Weed et al., 2008; Yeh & Tsai, 2014). There have also been numerous research suggesting that difficulties with executive functions are common following stroke (Laino, 2010; Riepe et al., 2004; Zinn et al., 2007). Although the evidence of a link between difficulties within these two functions following stroke is mixed (Aboulafia-Brakha et al., 2011; Xi et al., 2013). The project aims to better understand this relationship through using more specific measures of executive function.
Adults (18 years +) who have experienced a stroke and healthy adults who have not experienced a stroke will be invited to take part in the study which will involve completing computer-based and paper-and-pencil cognitive tasks lasting for less than 1-and-a-half hours. This will take place either in participants’ homes, university campus rooms or NHS locations. The research will look at the extent to which performance on executive function tasks explains the evidenced comparatively poorer performance on theory of mind tasks of people who have experienced stroke.
REC name
London - Dulwich Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0061
Date of REC Opinion
8 Feb 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion