Cited by 206Child and Animal Learning DevelopmentAction Observation and SynchronizationSocial Robot Interaction and HRI

Theory of mind performance in children correlates with functional specialization of a brain region for thinking about thoughts

Gweon, Hyowon, Dodell-Feder, David, Bedny, Marina, Saxe, Rebecca·2012·Child Development

Abstract

Thinking about other people's thoughts recruits a specific group of brain regions, including the temporo-parietal junctions (TPJ), precuneus (PC), and medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). The same brain regions were recruited when children (N=20, 5-11 years) and adults (N=8) listened to descriptions of characters' mental states, compared to descriptions of physical events. Between ages 5 and 11 years, responses in the bilateral TPJ became increasingly specific to stories describing mental states as opposed to people's appearance and social relationships. Functional activity in the right TPJ was related to children's performance on a high level theory of mind task. These findings provide insights into the origin of neural mechanisms of theory of mind, and how behavioral and neural changes can be related in development.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01829.x

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Authors
Gweon, H., Dodell-Feder, D., Bedny, M., & Saxe, R.
Affiliations
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Harvard University
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
Venue
Child Development
Published
2012-11-01
Volume
83
Issue
6
Pages
1853-1868
ISSN
  • 0009-3920 (ISSN-L)
  • 1467-8624
OpenAlex
W2113635677
Cited by
206
References
70
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 2
FWCI
27.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Child Development (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Social Robot Interaction and HRI
Keywords
theory of mind, children, temporoparietal junction, precuneus, medial prefrontal cortex, neural development, cognitive development, functional specialization, social cognition
MeSH terms
Acoustic Stimulation, Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Brain, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Functional Laterality, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Thinking, Young Adult, Theory of Mind

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