Cognitive processes predicting advanced theory of mind in the broader autism phenotype.
Language-based executive functions predict who will fail faux pas tests in autism-relatives, so target verbal thinking skills when social gaffe detection is weak.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Green et al. (2020) gave the faux pas test to adults who carry the broader autism phenotype. These are relatives of people with autism who show mild social quirks themselves.
The team also tested language-based executive functions. They wanted to know if these thinking skills could spot who would fail the faux pas task.
What they found
About half of the BAP group flunked the faux pas test. They missed the hidden social slip.
Language-linked executive functions picked out the passers from the failers with 79% accuracy. In plain words, word skills plus self-control predicted who could read the social gaffe.
How this fits with other research
Kouklari et al. (2018) found working memory predicted ToM in autistic kids, yet general EF did not explain their social chat problems. Green et al. (2020) now show a tighter link: language-EF alone flags faux pas trouble in BAP adults.
Cardillo et al. (2021) saw ToM—not EF—drive pragmatic language gaps in autistic children. The new BAP data flip the spotlight: when the task is faux pas, EF filtered through language is the key.
Yu et al. (2021) showed cool EF and verbal comprehension mediate the hot EF-ToM path in autistic students. Green et al. (2020) echo this mediation pattern in undiagnosed BAP relatives, hinting the pathway spans both clinical and sub-clinical traits.
Why it matters
If a client breezes through social stories yet bombs faux pas tasks, probe language-based EF before you pile on more social skills drills. Strengthen verbal working memory, planning, or self-talk routines. A quick language-EF screen can tell you who needs this extra lift and who just needs practice with social cues.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Little is known about executive functions (EFs) associated with advanced theory of mind (ToM) abilities. We aimed to determine if advanced ToM abilities were reduced in individuals with subclinical traits of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), known as the "Broader Autism Phenotype" (BAP), and identify the EFs that predicted unimpaired performance on an advanced ToM task, the faux pas test. We assessed 29 participants (13 males) with the BAP who were relatives of children with ASD. Thirteen participants showed reduced ability to understand a faux pas. A discriminant function analysis correctly classified 79% of cases as impaired or unimpaired, with high sensitivity (80%) and specificity (77%), which was best predicted by language-mediated EFs, including verbal generativity, working memory, cognitive inhibition, and flexibility. Autism Res 2020, 13: 921-934. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Little is known about the complex cognitive processes that enable accurate interpretation of another person's thoughts and emotions, known as "theory of mind." In relatives of individuals with autism, who had mild traits of autism themselves, approximately half had difficulty interpreting situations involving a social faux pas. Cognitive inhibition and flexibility, working memory, and verbal generativity were related to, and appeared to be protective for, unimpaired understanding of a faux pas.
Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 2020 · doi:10.1002/aur.2209