An fMRI Study Regarding the 'Theory of Mind' in Korean Schizophrenic Patients Using a First Order False Belief Task.
- Author:
In Kyung OH
1
;
Jung Woo SON
;
Sang Ick LEE
;
Chul Jin SHIN
;
Sie Kyeong KIM
;
Hei Rhee GHIM
;
Seung Bok LEE
;
Min PARK
;
Je Chun YU
;
Yeoung Rang KIM
;
Young Rak CHOI
;
Woo Rim JEONG
;
Min Jung KIM
;
Hyo Sun JUNG
;
Hyo Woon YOON
Author Information
1. Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea. jwsonn@chungbuk.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Schizophrenia;
Theory of mind;
First order false belief task;
fMRI
- MeSH:
Brain;
Humans;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Schizophrenia;
Theory of Mind
- From:Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
2010;49(3):312-323
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate brain activation during a Korean language-based 'theory of mind (TOM)' task and fMRI in Korean schizophrenic patients. METHODS: Fourteen Korean schizophrenic patients and 15 normal controls participated in this study. For all participants, several clinical states and psychosocial functions were evaluated. The subjects were then scanned while performing Korean language-based fMRI tasks. The tasks were comprised of conditions-first order false belief (TOM task), physical causality, and unrelated situations. Imaging data were analyzed using SPM2 software (uncorrected p<0.005, extent threshold kappa=10). RESULTS: 1) Compared with the control group, the patient group showed significantly poorer performance on the TOM task, and no significant correlation between TOM and empathic abilitiesy. 2) In the patient group, there were no significantly activated brain regions associated with the TOM task as compared to the physical causality task. With respect to between-group differences, the patient group showed significantly less activation of the left medial frontal region (primarily BA 8) and signifcantly different activation of the left precuneus (BA 7) associated with the TOM task. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Korean schizophreniac patients show different brain activity associated with TOM functions, especially with respect to the Korean language-based first order false belief tasks.
