Changes in social cognition, encompassing all cognitive processes that underlie social interaction, have been noted in various types of dementia. Theory of Mind (ToM) is a key aspect of social...Show moreChanges in social cognition, encompassing all cognitive processes that underlie social interaction, have been noted in various types of dementia. Theory of Mind (ToM) is a key aspect of social cognition, defined as the ability to understand the mental state of another person, including their emotions, intentions and beliefs. Cartoon tests aim to adopt humour using cartoon jokes to assess ToM. In this study, a new Dutch cartoon test aimed to be applicable in clinical assessment of dementia was developed and validated. The test includes 12 cartoons (6 requiring ToM to understand the joke and 6 that do not), which were collected through an extensive search and were rated by experts (n = 17) on content and funniness. Normative data for the selected cartoons was obtained by control participants (n = 39), through annotation of these, scoring categories were formed. The test was then validated in a clinical sample, including patients referred to a memory clinic for cognitive complaints and suspected dementia (n = 9), in an observational cross-sectional study with a case-control type selection of participants. Patients were expected to score lower on the cartoon test than controls. An ANCOVA with demographic variables as covariates was performed: no significant differences between patients (n = 9) and control participants (n = 9) were found (p > .05). Further, the internal validity (Cronbach’s α of .864 for the total cartoon test) and convergent validity of test was good. Divergent validity was found to be questionable. Regarding demographics: females were expected to score higher than males; older participants were expected to score higher than younger participants; and higher educated participants were expected to score higher than lower educated participants on the cartoon test. A Mann-Whitney U analysis showed no gender differences (p > .05); assessment of Spearman-rank order correlation coefficients showed age was significant in its negative relation to cartoon test performance (p < .05); and education level significant in its positive relation to test performance (p < .05). Future investigation with a larger patient sample including differential dementia diagnoses is recommended to substantiate the results and make the test clinically applicable.Show less
This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the relationship between neurocognition and theory of mind (ToM) in patients with neuropsychiatric problems. Establishing this relationship is important...Show moreThis cross-sectional study aimed to explore the relationship between neurocognition and theory of mind (ToM) in patients with neuropsychiatric problems. Establishing this relationship is important for determining if social cognition has to be tested as a separate domain, and in addition, this knowledge can guide interventions. Secondly, it was examined to what extent the relationship between neurocognition and ToM was moderated by age, gender, and education level. Exploring possible moderators can help tailor assessments and interventions to address individual differences. Finally, and most importantly, this preliminary study aimed to provide direction for follow-up research into the relationship between neurocognition and social cognition. Participants included 28 Dutch patients between the ages of 20 and 88 who received neuropsychological assessments at Yulius’ outpatient clinic. Neurocognition was assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and ToM was assessed by the Hinting Task. A simple linear regression revealed that the MoCA total score statistically significantly predicted the Hinting Task total score, F(1,26) = 24.771, p <.001, accounting for 48.8% of the variation in the Hinting Task. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that gender moderated the effect of the MoCA total score on the Hinting Task total score (b = 0.286, SE = 0.135, t = 2.115, p =.045). Simple slope analyses revealed that there was a statistically significant positive linear relationship between the MoCA total score and the Hinting Task total score in males (b = 0.502, SE = 0.111, t = 4.509, p <.001), and also a significant positive relationship in females (b = 0.216, SE = 0.077, t = 2.805, p =.010). However, age and education level did not moderate the effect of the MoCA total score on the Hinting Task total score. In conclusion, this study provides initial clues to a relationship between neurocognition and ToM, highlighting the fact that both neurocognition and social cognition are important aspects to examine in neuropsychological assessments. In addition, only gender appears to influence this relationship. However, replication of this study with a larger sample size is important before suggesting modifications to neuropsychological assessment and treatments.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Griekse en Latijnse taal en cultuur (BA)
closed access
In deze scriptie wordt onderzocht hoe er met de typische herkenningsplot gespeeld wordt in de Ion van Euripides. Het herkenningsthema is niet slechts een dramaturgisch middel, maar wordt ook een...Show moreIn deze scriptie wordt onderzocht hoe er met de typische herkenningsplot gespeeld wordt in de Ion van Euripides. Het herkenningsthema is niet slechts een dramaturgisch middel, maar wordt ook een thema op zich. De uitwerking van de herkenningsscènes in de vorm van een incomplete en een valse herkenning zorgt ervoor dat herkenning op zich een thema wordt waar het publiek op let. Hierdoor worden vragen opgeroepen over de mogelijkheid en validiteit van identiteit en herkenning en wat het betekent om iemand te herkennen. Het publiek vormt met attribution theory (theory of mind) een referentiekader, waarmee zij de herkenningsscènes analyseren. In de derde en laatste herkenningsscène wordt voor de personages alles inhoudelijk netjes afgerond, maar doordat herkenning op zich een thema is geworden, blijft het publiek zitten met fundamentele vragen over epistemologie en de betrouwbaarheid van menselijk redeneren. De thema’s van identiteit, epistemologie en herkenning blijven voortleven na afloop van het stuk.Show less
One of the most contagious behaviors among humans is contagious yawning (CY). There is an ongoing debate in the current literature about its' functions and underlying mechanisms. Two perspectives...Show moreOne of the most contagious behaviors among humans is contagious yawning (CY). There is an ongoing debate in the current literature about its' functions and underlying mechanisms. Two perspectives prevail, namely the physiological stance, suggesting that CY is merely a homeostatic response. The social stance suggests a solid relation to the social environment, where individual characteristics, such as empathy and theory of mind, play a role in the yawning contagion. To investigate this, we consider the relation between CY and the primary innate mechanism of imitation, (facial) mimicry. Mimicry seems to be indirectly related to CY via empathy. We hypothesize that individuals who mimic more have higher rates of yawning contagion. To test this, forty-one healthy participants partook in a psychophysiological experiment. We measured the physiological activity of facial muscles (with electromyography, EMG), heart rate, skin conductance, and pupil dilation (with an eye-tracker) during computer tasks. We also control for the potential effects of hours of sleep, energy levels and order of condition. After conducting a generalized linear mixed model in R, we did not find a significant effect of facial mimicry on CY. Empathy, theory of mind, sleep and energy levels did not influence CY. However, we found a significance in the order of condition, supporting physiological arousal theories. We suggest additional research by considering other types of mimicry (pupil). We also provide novel detection criteria of CY and the visual representations of EMG activity of the Zygomaticus Major and Corrugator Supercilli during CY. These are crucial for future research, as they have not been previously identified.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
open access
2020-11-30T00:00:00Z
Objective: To examine (a) the effect of maternal reflective functioning (RF) on precursors of theory of mind (ToM) and executive functioning (EF) in 20-month-old children, (b) the relation between...Show moreObjective: To examine (a) the effect of maternal reflective functioning (RF) on precursors of theory of mind (ToM) and executive functioning (EF) in 20-month-old children, (b) the relation between ToM and EF at 20 months, and (c) the effectiveness of an early intervention program aimed, among others, at improving maternal RF. Method: The sample consisted of 118 mother-child dyads. Maternal RF was assessed during pregnancy using the Pregnancy Interview-Revised and at 20 months using the Parent Development Interview. At 20 months children’s ToM understanding was examined using a simple visual perspective (VP) taking task, a discrepant desires (DD) task and an imitation task; EF performance was assessed using a delay task (inhibition) and a working memory (WM) task called ‘hide the pots’. The Child Behavior Checklist was conducted to assess children’s problem behavior. Results: Children of mothers low on maternal RF, especially child-related RF, showed significantly worse VP-taking capacities compared with children of mothers average/high on RF. A significant moderating effect of children’s problem behavior was present; children with high attention problems or a high withdrawn level were more affected by their mothers’ low RF capacities. No unequivocal and significant effects of maternal RF on DD, imitation and EF performance were found. In addition, only a significant correlation between DD and WM performance was present. The effectiveness of the early intervention program regarding improving RF could not be confirmed. Conclusions: Early intervention programs should focus on improving child-related aspects of maternal RF of mothers at risk for being low on RF, especially when their children show problem behavior. Future research should reexamine both the effect of maternal RF on ToM and EF, and the relationship between ToM and EF at e.g. 2.5 years.Show less
