4. Introduction metacognition and ToM

Question 1

Metacognition

Definition and objective

Answer 1

Mental activity by which mental states or processes become an object of reflection

Objective: know, contol and self-regulate intellectual function

Question 2

Metacognition

dimensions

Answer 2

• Conscious: stable knowledge about cognition and about oneselve’s capability to problem-solve
• Regulation: control and monitoring (supervision) of cognitive skills
• Evaluation of self-cognitive processes and strategies

Question 3

Metacognition

Primary aspects

Answer 3

Knowledge about self-cognition:
- Declarative knowledge: know what
- Procedural knowledge: know how
- Contextual or conditional knowledge: know why

Behavioural control of intellectual processes
Variables intervening:
- personal (abilities)
- task (difficulties)
- strategy ( adv. and disasdv.)

Question 4

Metacognition
Applications

Answer 4

learning and clinical therapy (Schizophrenia, Meta Cognitive Training)

Question 5

Theory of Mind

who?
theoretical precedents
Definition by Dennett

Answer 5

Premack and Woodruff: ability to infer and understand others’ mental states (ideas, desires, tastes…)

Studies on how children understand social things and go through inherent selfishness (Piaget Vigotsky)

ToM implies having beliefs about others’ beliefs that are independent of our own and allow to explain and predict behaviours

Question 6

Neural bases
Theory of Mind

Answer 6

medial prefrontal cortex
precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex

Question 7

Neural bases
Mirror system

Answer 7

Ventral premotor cortex and temporoparietal junction

Mirror neurons are active when performing a particular movement or when observing or hearing another perform the same action

(Observed in are F5 in monkeys)

Question 8

Disorders of ToM
General

Answer 8

Psychopathy (asocial, amoral) < autism < Williams Syndrome (hypersocial, hypermoral)

Its independent of general intelligence

Question 9

Disorders of ToM
Autism

Answer 9

difficulties in cognitive empathy and abnormalities in brain areas associated with social cognition

Question 10

Disorders of ToM
Schizophrenia

Answer 10

brain regions with grey matter loss correspond to networks for social cue perception and ToM

Question 11

Disorders of ToM
Brain regions

Answer 11

• Superior temporal sulcus less grey matter
• Weaker functional connectivity between anterior cingulate and medial prefrontal cortex

Question 12

Complexity levels

Answer 12

• Emotional face recognition
• 1st and 2nd order beliefs
• Social use of language (lying, ironies)
• Social behaviour (mess up)
• Social cognition and empathy

Question 13

Evaluations for complexity levels
1st and 2nd order beliefs

Answer 13

1st:
Sally-Anne task (marble in a basket, leaves, passes it to bag, comes back, where will she look?)

2nd:
Ice cream man task (john saw van at park, goes to get money, ice cream man tells mary hes moving, john goes back to get ice cream, mary has gone to llok for john, hes back getting ice cream, where will she look for john?)