Theory of Mind, pragmatics and the brain

By Ivan Enrici, Bruno G. Bara, M. Adenzato. 2019

27 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Abstract Theory of Mind (ToM) is a neurocognitive system that allows the perceiver to attribute mental states, such as intentions, beliefs, or feelings, to others’ actions. The aim of the present work is to analyse the engagement of the ToM system in communication, in particular, in communicative intention processing. To this aim, we propose an Intention Processing Network (IPN) with its own principles and mechanisms, that is, a brain network differentially engaged according to the complex intertwining of the context, goal, and action involved. According to our IPN model, a set of brain regions of the ToM system (i.e. left and right temporoparietal junction, precuneus, and medial prefrontal cortex) are differentially involved in comprehending different types of intention, such as private or social intentions. We provide independent and convergent evidence on the role of the IPN model in communicative intention processing and we show that the engagement of the IPN does not depend upon the communicative means used, that is, written language, auditory language, or gesture. Evidence deriving from different experimental paradigms, including neuroimaging, lesion, neurodegenerative, and brain stimulation studies are discussed. In our view, this evidence establishes a link between ToM and pragmatics studies and suggests the role of intention processing as a core feature of human communication.

Subfields: Cognitive Neuroscience, Social Psychology, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science & Psychology

How researchers see this paper

The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.

In Cognitive Neuroscience

1. Yejin Choi
2. Ronan Le Bras

In Social Psychology

1. Yejin Choi
2. Maarten Sap
3. Michal Kosinski

In Neuroscience

1. Yejin Choi
2. Maarten Sap

In Cognitive Science & Psychology

1. Yejin Choi
2. Maarten Sap
3. Ronan Le Bras
4. Daniel Fried
5. Michal Kosinski

Citations in the corpus

• Neural Theory-of-Mind? On the Limits of Social Intelligence in Large LMs (2022, background): “and communication can frame our understanding of this link (Rubio-Fernandez, 2021), positing that one needs to reason about an interlocutor’s mental state (TOM) to effectively communicate and understand language (Grice, 1975; Fernández, 2013; Goodman and Frank, 2016; Enrici et al., 2019).”