Validation of revised reading the mind in the eyes test in the Indian (Bengali) population: A preliminary study

Behavioral synchronization of two individuals during cooperative interaction: the role of the mentalization ability as measured by the reading the mind in the eyes test

BACKGROUND

Interpersonally synchronized behaviors play a fundamental role in social interactions. An important prereqvisite for behavioral synchronization is the mentalization ability of the individuals involved in the interaction. While the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) is widely applied to measure mentalization, most studies of RMET used single-subject designs, which lack ecological validity and have limited generalizability for real, on-going, reciprocal social interactions. Using a two-subject design, our objectives were to examine (i) the predictive validity of RMET for the synchronous behavior of two interacting individuals during a reaction time task; (ii) the association of age-related RMET performance with interpersonal coordination; and (iii) the influence of various potentially important covariates on the association, including psychological distress, basic personality domains such as impulsive responding, and lack of attention.

METHODS

We investigated 24 dyads, using 48 subjects (mean age 32.9 [SD = 12.8] years). Synchronous behavior was indexed by the correlation of participants' responses in terms of reaction times (RTs) to visual stimuli. We used the correct recognition rate from the RMET as a measure of mentalization ability.

RESULTS

Our results indicated that the synchronization of the behavioral responses (i.e., RTs) between the interacting pairs and their mentalization ability, as measured by the RMET, showed significant association. Specifically, with good performance (100% correct recognition), the behavioral response synchronization was significantly (F = 153.34, p < 0.0001) higher (Pearson correlation, r = 0.41) than with poor performance (50% correct recognition, r = 0.25). Higher age was inversely related to behavioral synchronization, with no interaction (p > 0.1) with RMET performance). The inclusion of additional covariates (e.g., measures for psychological distress and basic personality domains) in the analyses did not alter the significance of the association between RMET performance and behavioral synchronization (p < 0.05, after adjustment).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results confirm the utility of RMET, as a measure of mentalization, to predict participants' ability to achieve behavioral synchronization during cooperative interaction. These results may facilitate research into mental disorders, where problems with social interactions play a role in symptom presentation. For this purpose, future studies with larger sample size should examine whether our findings can be dimensionally extrapolated to patients with such disorders.

An Evaluation of Cross-Cultural Adaptations of Social Cognition Testing: A Systematic Review

Social cognition remains one of the most difficult cognitive domains to assess in diverse populations due to a lack of culturally appropriate tools. This study systematically reviewed literature on neuropsychological tests for social cognition that have been translated, adapted, are cross-cultural, or are assembled for diverse, specifically "Global South," populations. The aim was to identify assessments appropriate for diverse populations, outline and evaluate their methodological approaches, and provide procedural recommendations for future research. The PRISMA systematic review search strategy produced 10,957 articles, of which 287 were selected for full-text screening. The study had to include a neuropsychological assessment of social cognition. The full text of the resulting 287 articles was then screened; the study had to include a translated, adapted, cross-cultural test, or an assembled test for Global South populations. Eighty-four articles were included in this study: 24 for emotion recognition, 45 for theory of mind, 9 for moral reasoning, and six for social cognition in general. Overall, there were 31 translations, 27 adaptations, 14 cross-cultural tests, and 12 assembled tests for Global South populations. Regarding quality, 35 were of low quality, 27 were of moderate quality, and 22 were high quality. This study provides an overview of social cognition tests modified or assembled for diverse populations and gives examples of methodological procedures. It highlights the variability in procedure quality and provides possible reasons for this variability. Finally, it suggests a need to report rigorous modification and assembly procedure in order to have modified and assembled social cognition tests appropriate for diverse populations.

The Role of Social Cognition in Depression and Its Relationship to Early Maladaptive Schemas

Background

Social cognition is the capacity to detect, comprehend, and evaluate environmentally relevant information and serves as a critical skill for effective interpersonal functioning. A significant clinical characteristic of depressive illness is the impairment in social and interpersonal functioning. Given the increasing prevalence of interpersonal difficulties among individuals with depression, it is crucial to get a greater insight into the underlying cognitive mechanisms leading to these social deficits. Alongside, early maladaptive schemas (EMS) also serve as proximal cognitive risk factors for depression. Altered socio-cognitive functioning in individuals with can help to draw a connection between impaired social cognition and EMS. In this context, the present study explores the role of social cognition in individuals with depression in relation to EMS.

Methods

In this study, individuals of both genders (N = 60) were pooled based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and screened for depression through the Beck Depression Inventory. Emotion Recognition and Theory of Mind (ToM) were assessed using the Reading Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) and Theory of Mind Assessment Scale (TH.O.M.A.S), respectively. EMS was assessed using the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form.

Results

Results indicate individuals with depression were found to be impaired in both domains of social cognition-emotion recognition and ToM. Individuals with depression also exhibited a greater number of EMS. A significant association was found between EMS and social cognition in depression. Moreover, few of the EMS emerged as significant predictors for social cognition in depression.

Conclusion

Individuals with depression exhibit impairment in "reading" social interactions. Moreover, they exhibit specific EMS that emerges as significant predictors of social cognition. Implications of the study focus on recognizing EMS as a tool for addressing the socio-cognitive impairment in depression.

Pragmatic deficits in patients with schizophrenia and right hemisphere damage: A pilot study

BACKGROUND

While pragmatic deficits are well documented in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) and right hemisphere damage (RHD), there is a paucity of research comparing the pragmatic deficits of these two groups. Do they experience similar cognitive dysfunction or is there a dissociation between the two patient groups?

AIMS

To investigate the nature of pragmatic deficits in these two groups and to gain an understanding of the underlying cognitive mechanisms that might be associated with these deficits to further future investigations.

METHODS & PROCEDURES

A total of 60 participants (15 patients with SCZ; 15 with RHD; 30 (15 + 15) healthy controls (HC) were administered the Bengali Audio-Visual Test-Battery for Assessment of Pragmatic Skills.

OUTCOMES & RESULTS

Both SCZ and RHD patients were found to have significant pragmatic deficits compared with their matched controls. SCZ patients were found to score significantly better than the RHD group in six out of the 10 pragmatic skills when controlled for age and education. Discriminant function analysis was performed and 86.7% of the cases (HC = 100%, SCZ = 73.3% and RHD = 86.7%) were correctly reclassified into their original categories using the test scores.

CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS

The study suggests that there is heterogeneity in the nature of the pragmatic breakdown within and across patient groups. Therefore, individualized restorative measures targeting the disrupted cognitive mechanism(s) might help elevate pragmatic competence and enhance the social functioning of patients with pragmatic deficits.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS

What is already known on the subject Pragmatic deficits are common in adults with cognitive impairments of different etiologies. However, few studies have explored pragmatic deficits across clinical populations. Consequently, very little is known about the nature of pragmatic deficits in patients with schizophrenia and right hemisphere damage. What this paper adds to existing knowledge This work offers preliminary data on pragmatic difficulties in patients with schizophrenia and right hemisphere damage. This study overrides the boundaries of traditional classifications and evaluates pragmatic difficulties in these two clinical populations with reference to the underlying cognitive mechanisms, which might be disrupted. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? The study adds a transdiagnostic perspective suggesting that there might be heterogeneity in pragmatic deficits, both within and across patient groups, and stresses the need for individualized therapy.