{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T00:50:01Z","timestamp":1760143801288,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":53,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,29]],"date-time":"2024-02-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1709164800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Initiative of Excellence\u2014Research University","award":["Action I.2.4","501-D125-01-1250000 zlec. 5011000184"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Action I.2.4","501-D125-01-1250000 zlec. 5011000184"]}]},{"name":"Ministry of Science and Higher Education","award":["Action I.2.4","501-D125-01-1250000 zlec. 5011000184"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Action I.2.4","501-D125-01-1250000 zlec. 5011000184"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Temporal lobe epilepsy is a common neurological disease that affects many areas of patients\u2019 lives, including social competence. The aim of the study was to assess theory of mind in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and to investigate the demographic and clinical factors associated with this function. Methods: A total of 65 participants took part in the study, which included 44 patients with epilepsy and 21 demographically matched healthy individuals. The following neuropsychological tests were used to examine theory of mind: the Faux Pas Test, the Hinting Task, the Emotion Comprehension Test, and a cognitive function screen, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Results: Patients with epilepsy scored lower on all measures of the theory-of-mind tests. Moreover, in the clinical group, numerous moderate and strong correlations were found between the theory-of-mind tests and education, age at onset of epilepsy, lateralization of epileptic focus, cognitive status, and, to a lesser degree, number of anti-epileptic drugs, frequency of seizures, and age. In contrast, in the control group, significant correlations were found mostly between the theory-of-mind tests and sex, and, to a lesser degree, age. Education and cognitive functioning were not associated. Conclusions: Patients with epilepsy experience difficulties in theory of mind, which may have a negative impact on the quality of their social relationships. The level of theory-of-mind abilities correlates with particular clinical and demographic indicators. Recognizing these issues allows clinicians to implement tailored interventions, potentially improving patients\u2019 quality of life.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm13051410","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,29]],"date-time":"2024-02-29T02:59:39Z","timestamp":1709175579000},"page":"1410","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Navigating Social Waters: Understanding Theory-of-Mind Challenges in Patients with Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6239-7232","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aleksandra","family":"Bala","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Stawki 5\/7, 00-183 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3947-699X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Agnieszka","family":"Olejnik","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Stawki 5\/7, 00-183 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Maria","family":"Moj\u017ceszek","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Stawki 5\/7, 00-183 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Andrzej","family":"Rysz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1a, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Przemys\u0142aw","family":"Kunert","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1a, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.1159\/000503831","article-title":"The Epidemiology of Epilepsy","volume":"54","author":"Beghi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Neuroepidemiology"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1005","DOI":"10.1212\/WNL.0b013e31822cfc90","article-title":"Incidence of epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"77","author":"Ngugi","year":"2011","journal-title":"Neurology"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"32","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yebeh.2008.09.017","article-title":"Temporal lobe epilepsy: Where do the seizures really begin?","volume":"14","author":"Bertram","year":"2009","journal-title":"Epilepsy Behav."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"McIntosh, W.C., and MDas, J. (2023). Temporal Seizure, StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3194","DOI":"10.21037\/apm-20-1415","article-title":"Factors influencing the long-term prognosis of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy: A single center study","volume":"9","author":"Yang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ann. Palliat. Med."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"295","DOI":"10.1034\/j.1600-0404.2000.90257a.x","article-title":"Quality of life and memory performance in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy","volume":"101","author":"Giovagnoli","year":"2000","journal-title":"Acta Neurol. Scand."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1211","DOI":"10.1093\/schbul\/sbm145","article-title":"Social cognition in schizophrenia: An NIMH workshop on definitions, assessment, and research opportunities","volume":"34","author":"Green","year":"2008","journal-title":"Schizophr. Bull."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"231","DOI":"10.1016\/S0959-4388(00)00202-6","article-title":"The neurobiology of social cognition","volume":"11","author":"Adolphs","year":"2001","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Neurobiol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"671","DOI":"10.1098\/rstb.2006.2003","article-title":"The social brain?","volume":"362","author":"Frith","year":"2007","journal-title":"Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"228","DOI":"10.1176\/appi.neuropsych.17080153","article-title":"Social Perception in Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: Interpreting Social Information From Moving Shapes and Biological Motion","volume":"30","author":"Bala","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Neuropsychiatry"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yebeh.2016.04.024","article-title":"Social cognition in temporal lobe epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"60","author":"Bora","year":"2016","journal-title":"Epilepsy Behav."},{"key":"ref_12","first-page":"78","article-title":"The role of amygdala in emotional and social functions: Implications for temporal lobe epilepsy","volume":"24","author":"Cristinzio","year":"2007","journal-title":"Epileptologie"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yebeh.2017.04.016","article-title":"Gaze matters! The effect of gaze direction on emotional enhancement of memory for faces in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy","volume":"72","author":"Okruszek","year":"2017","journal-title":"Epilepsy Behav."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"976439","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2022.976439","article-title":"Theory of mind and facial emotion recognition in adults with temporal lobe epilepsy: A meta-analysis","volume":"13","author":"Qi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"515","DOI":"10.1017\/S0140525X00076512","article-title":"Does the chimpanzee have a theory of mind?","volume":"1","author":"Premack","year":"1978","journal-title":"Behav. Brain Sci."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2073","DOI":"10.1080\/17470218.2012.697178","article-title":"The 38th Sir Frederick Bartlett Lecture Why we need cognitive explanations of autism","volume":"65","author":"Frith","year":"2012","journal-title":"Q. J. Exp. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1639","DOI":"10.1111\/epi.12255","article-title":"Theory of mind and epilepsy: What clinical implications?","volume":"54","author":"Giovagnoli","year":"2013","journal-title":"Epilepsia"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.1016\/j.janxdis.2015.11.004","article-title":"Theory of mind in social anxiety disorder, depression, and comorbid conditions","volume":"37","author":"Washburn","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Anxiety Disord."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cobeha.2017.07.010","article-title":"On the interaction of social affect and cognition: Empathy, compassion and theory of mind","volume":"19","author":"Preckel","year":"2018","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Behav. Sci."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"426","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1468-1331.2009.02836.x","article-title":"Social cognition and theory of mind in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis","volume":"17","author":"Banati","year":"2010","journal-title":"Eur. J. Neurol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"312","DOI":"10.1037\/neu0000220","article-title":"Theory of mind in Alzheimer disease: Evidence of authentic impairment during social interaction","volume":"30","author":"Moreau","year":"2016","journal-title":"Neuropsychology"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1181","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuropsychologia.2010.02.009","article-title":"Theory of mind deficits in patients with acquired brain injury: A quantitative review","volume":"48","year":"2010","journal-title":"Neuropsychologia"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1160","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1528-1157.2001.37000.x","article-title":"Social functioning, psychological functioning, and quality of life in epilepsy","volume":"42","author":"Suurmeijer","year":"2001","journal-title":"Epilepsia"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yebeh.2014.07.006","article-title":"The importance of theory of mind in epilepsy","volume":"39","author":"Thompson","year":"2014","journal-title":"Epilepsy Behav."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"139","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yebeh.2014.06.005","article-title":"Empathy and emotion recognition in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy","volume":"37","author":"Jiang","year":"2014","journal-title":"Epilepsy Behav."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2141","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1528-1167.2006.00857.x","article-title":"Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy impairs advanced social cognition","volume":"47","author":"Schacher","year":"2006","journal-title":"Epilepsia"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1995","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1528-1167.2011.03215.x","article-title":"Theory of mind in frontal and temporal lobe epilepsy: Cognitive and neural aspects","volume":"52","author":"Giovagnoli","year":"2011","journal-title":"Epilepsia"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"271","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuropsychologia.2016.11.007","article-title":"A functional magnetic resonance imaging investigation of theory of mind impairments in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy","volume":"93","author":"Hennion","year":"2016","journal-title":"Neuropsychologia"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"485","DOI":"10.1037\/neu0000126","article-title":"Characterization and prediction of theory of mind disorders in temporal lobe epilepsy","volume":"29","author":"Hennion","year":"2015","journal-title":"Neuropsychology"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1535","DOI":"10.1093\/brain\/awh168","article-title":"The impact of early and late damage to the human amygdala on \u2018theory of mind\u2019 reasoning","volume":"127 Pt B","author":"Shaw","year":"2004","journal-title":"Brain"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"640","DOI":"10.1162\/089892998562942","article-title":"Frontal lobe contributions to theory of mind","volume":"10","author":"Stone","year":"1998","journal-title":"J. Cogn. Neurosci."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1016\/0920-9964(95)00024-G","article-title":"Schizophrenia, symptomatology and social inference: Investigating \u201ctheory of mind\u201d in people with schizophrenia","volume":"17","author":"Corcoran","year":"1995","journal-title":"Schizophr. Res."},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"Matczak, A., and Piekarska, A. (2011). Test Rozumienia Emocji TRE. Podr\u0119cznik, Pracownia Test\u00f3w Psychologicznych Polskiego Towarzystwa Psychologicznego."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"695","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1532-5415.2005.53221.x","article-title":"The Montreal cognitive assessment, MoCA: A brief screening tool for mild cognitive impairment","volume":"53","author":"Nasreddine","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Am. Geriatr. Soc."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"152","DOI":"10.1016\/j.archger.2015.09.009","article-title":"Theory of Mind in aging: Comparing cognitive and affective components in the faux pas test","volume":"62","author":"Bottiroli","year":"2016","journal-title":"Arch. Gerontol. Geriatr."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychres.2018.03.014","article-title":"Theory of mind in a first-episode psychosis population using the Hinting Task","volume":"263","author":"Lindgren","year":"2018","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"594","DOI":"10.1017\/S1355617713000143","article-title":"Theory of mind in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy","volume":"19","author":"Li","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Int. Neuropsychol. Soc."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"244","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yebeh.2018.09.026","article-title":"Theory of Mind impairment in focal versus generalized epilepsy","volume":"88","author":"Morou","year":"2018","journal-title":"Epilepsy Behav."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"940","DOI":"10.3389\/fneur.2019.00940","article-title":"Impaired Social Cognition in Epilepsy: A Review of What We Have Learnt From Neuroimaging Studies","volume":"10","author":"Jokeit","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front. Neurol."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"877957","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2022.877957","article-title":"Theory of Mind and Empathy in Adults with Epilepsy: A Meta-Analysis","volume":"13","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Novak, A., Vizjak, K., and Rakusa, M. (2022). Cognitive Impairment in People with Epilepsy. J. Clin. Med., 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm11010267"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107834","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yebeh.2021.107834","article-title":"Resting-state hippocampal networks related to language processing reveal unique patterns in temporal lobe epilepsy","volume":"117","author":"Whitten","year":"2021","journal-title":"Epilepsy Behav."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2546","DOI":"10.1007\/s00415-012-6533-3","article-title":"Alterations in functional connectivity of the amygdala in unilateral mesial temporal lobe epilepsy","volume":"259","author":"Broicher","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Neurol."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"118","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuropsychologia.2011.11.005","article-title":"\u201cTell me how do I feel\u201d\u2014Emotion recognition and theory of mind in symptomatic mesial temporal lobe epilepsy","volume":"50","author":"Broicher","year":"2012","journal-title":"Neuropsychologia"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2783","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuropsychologia.2007.04.020","article-title":"A prospective study of the effects of anterior temporal lobectomy on emotion recognition and theory of mind","volume":"45","author":"Shaw","year":"2007","journal-title":"Neuropsychologia"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106301","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yebeh.2019.04.054","article-title":"Facial emotion perception and social competence in children (8 to 16 years old) with genetic generalized epilepsy and temporal lobe epilepsy","volume":"100 Pt B","author":"Stewart","year":"2019","journal-title":"Epilepsy Behav."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.3988\/jcn.2008.4.3.99","article-title":"Cognitive effects of antiepileptic drugs","volume":"4","author":"Park","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Clin. Neurol."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1007\/s11065-015-9313-x","article-title":"Theory of Mind in Patients with Epilepsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis","volume":"26","author":"Stewart","year":"2016","journal-title":"Neuropsychol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e2022385119","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.2022385119","article-title":"Sex and age differences in \u201ctheory of mind\u201d across 57 countries using the English version of the \u201cReading the Mind in the Eyes\u201d Test","volume":"120","author":"Greenberg","year":"2023","journal-title":"Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA"},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"575100","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.575100","article-title":"What\u2019s the Link Between Theory of Mind and Other Cognitive Abilities\u2014A Co-twin Control Design of Neurodevelopmental Disorders","volume":"12","author":"Isaksson","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106349","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yebeh.2019.05.044","article-title":"Theory of mind across lifespan from ages 16 to 81 years","volume":"100","author":"Giovagnoli","year":"2019","journal-title":"Epilepsy Behav."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"228","DOI":"10.2117\/psysoc.2006.228","article-title":"Theory of mind in old adults: The performance on Happe\u2019s stories and faux pas stories","volume":"49","author":"Wang","year":"2006","journal-title":"Psychologia"},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ghosh, S., Sinha, J.K., Ghosh, S., Sharma, H., Bhaskar, R., and Narayanan, K.B. (2023). A Comprehensive Review of Emerging Trends and Innovative Therapies in Epilepsy Management. Brain Sci., 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/brainsci13091305"}],"container-title":["Journal of Clinical Medicine"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2077-0383\/13\/5\/1410\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T14:06:53Z","timestamp":1760105213000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2077-0383\/13\/5\/1410"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,29]]},"references-count":53,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,3]]}},"alternative-id":["jcm13051410"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/jcm13051410","relation":{},"ISSN":["2077-0383"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2077-0383"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,29]]}}}