Cognitive and Affective Theory of Mind in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Parkinson's Disease: Preliminary Evidence from the Italian Version of the Yoni Task

Dev Neuropsychol. 2018;43(8):764-780. doi: 10.1080/87565641.2018.1529175. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to explore cognitive and affective dimensions of ToM using the computerized Yoni task in participants with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI=16), early stage of Parkinson's Disease (PD=14), and healthy controls (HC=18) Results demonstrated that the Yoni task was effective in discriminating between groups in 1th order cognitive dimension (MCI<PD=HC, pcorr<.05), and in 2nd order cognitive and affective dimensions (MCI<HC, pcorr <.05), highlighting a reduced ToM performance also in people with PD (MCI<PD<HC, pcorr <.05). Thus, the Yoni task represents a sensitive tool for detecting different dimensions of ToM impairment, across different clinical conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests / standards*
  • Parkinson Disease / pathology
  • Parkinson Disease / psychology*
  • Theory of Mind / physiology*