Theory of Mind
Gallagher, H. L., & Frith, C. D. (2003)

Our ability to explain and predict other
people’s behavior by attributing to them
independent mental states
Theory of Mind

Our ability to explain and predict other
people’s behavior by attributing to them
independent mental states

This enables us to deceive, cooperate, and
empathize with others

Also aids in predicting the behaviors of
others
Theory of Mind

How can we study the mechanisms
involved in having a theory of mind?
◦ Autism Studies
Theory of Mind

A characteristic of Autism is a selective
impairment in theory of mind
◦ This accounts for deficits in communication,
socialization, and imagination
Autism Studies

A characteristic of Autism is a selective
impairment in theory of mind
◦ This accounts for deficits in communication,
socialization, and imagination
◦ Sabotage/Deception Task
Autism Studies

The theory of mind mechanism depends
on a representation of imaginary
circumstances ‘decoupled’ from reality
Leslie’s Model of Mentalizing
Ice Cream!

General knowledge of the world
What informs our expectations?

General knowledge of the world

Specific knowledge of this person
What informs our expectations?

General knowledge of the world

Specific knowledge of this person

Observations of what he or she is doing
What informs our expectations?

Scripts record the particular goals and
activities which take place in a particular
setting at a particular time.
◦ Such as the ‘restaurant script’
General Knowledge of the World
Neuroimaging

Anterior paracingulate cortex
Neuroimaging

Anterior paracingulate cortex

Superior temporal sulcus
Neuroimaging

Anterior paracingulate cortex

Superior temporal sulcus

Temporal poles
Neuroimaging

Anterior paracingulate cortex

Superior temporal sulcus

Temporal poles

Amygdala
Neuroimaging

Anterior paracingulate cortex

Superior temporal sulcus

Temporal poles

Amygdala

Orbitofrontal cortex
Neuroimaging

Gallagher et al. (2002)
Anterior Paracingulate Cortex

Gallagher et al. (2002)
◦ The anterior paracingulate cortex lit up in the
“mentalizing group”
Anterior Paracingulate Cortex

Gallagher et al. (2002)
◦ The anterior paracingulate cortex lit up in the
“mentalizing group”

McCabe et al. (2001)
Anterior Paracingulate Cortex

Gallagher et al. (2002)
◦ The anterior paracingulate cortex lit up in the
“mentalizing group”

McCabe et al. (2001)
◦ The anterior paracingulate cortex lit up for the
group playing “trust and reciprocity games”
with human counterparts
Anterior Paracingulate Cortex

Off-line mentalizing
◦ Mentalizing outside of a situation
Off-line vs. On-line Mentalizing

Off-line mentalizing
◦ Mentalizing outside of a situation

On-line mentalizing
◦ Mentalizing in real time
Off-line vs. On-line Mentalizing
Anterior Paracingulate Cortex

Lesion Studies
◦ People with lesions on the right side of their
frontal lobe have difficulty detecting deception
in others
Anterior Paracingulate Cortex

Lesion Studies
◦ People with lesions on the right side of their
frontal lobe have difficulty detecting deception
in others

Duncan and Owen (2001)
◦ The dorsal part of the anterior cingulate cortex
activated with increased task difficulty, but the
anterior paracingulate activated during
mentalizing
Anterior Paracingulate Cortex
Superior Temporal Sulcus

Gallagher et al (2000)
◦ The right superior temporal sulcus is associated
with understanding the meaning of stories and
cartoons involving people without having to
necessarily mentalize
Superior Temporal Sulcus

Causality and intentionality in settings
involving people

Attribution of intentions and movements
of geometric shapes

Taking the self-perspective
Superior Temporal Sulcus

Biological Motion
Superior Temporal Sulcus

Biological Motion
◦ Hand actions
◦ Body movements
◦ Mouth movements and lip reading
◦ Eye movements and gaze direction
Superior Temporal Sulcus

Narumoto et al. (2001)
◦ The right superior temporal sulcus is part of a
network of face-responsive brain regions.
Superior Temporal Sulcus
Temporal Poles

Recollection of familiar faces and scenes

Recognition of familiar voices

Emotional memory retrieval

Autobiographical memory retrieval
Temporal Poles
Amygdala

Makes quick, automatic judgments in
socially salient situations
Amygdala
Orbitofrontal Cortex

Responds to aversive reactions of others,
particularly anger
Orbitofrontal Cortex

Stone et al. (1998)
◦ Patients with bilateral damage to the
orbitofrontal cortex were impaired in a ‘faux
pas test’
Orbitofrontal Cortex

Involves a network of several brain areas
which work together to help us
Theory of Mind