Theory of Mind predicts participants' semantic performance: a study with the DRM task

Theory of Mind (ToM) and human memory are closely related across the whole lifespan. Consistent with this, evidence from the clinical populations has showed that individuals with autism spectrum disorder display both ToM impairment and diminished tendency to semantically associate information in memory performance, and individuals with semantic dementia exhibit, together with semantic memory deficit, ToM impairments. However, to date no research has specifically investigated ToM role in semantic memory processes, in terms of the relationship between one’s tendency to create semantic association within the material to be retrieved and the ability to understand other’s mental states. To address this gap, the present behavioral study aimed to investigate the relationship between ToM abilities, considering both the frequently dissociating cognitive and affective components, and semantic memory performance through the DRM task. Fifty-six healthy participants completed an Italian version of the DRM task, in which they were asked to remember several lists of words, followed by a recognition phase; in addition, as continuous predictors, participants’ ToM abilities, through a cognitive and an affective ToM task, and vocabulary were measured. Results showed that the effect of the cognitive ToM task was significant in predicting participants’ semantic performance in the DRM task: the higher participants’ cognitive ToM abilities, the higher participants’ reliance on semantic memory while performing the DRM task and, accordingly, participants’ tendency to create false semantic memories. Overall, the present work sheds light on the connection between semantic memory performance, connected to false memories, and ToM, proposing a theoretical explanation for a common underlying cognitive process, while considering the major methodological limitations and future applications. Keywords: semantic memory, false memory, DRM, Theory of Mind, ToM