Reduced neural selectivity for mental states in deaf children with delayed exposure to sign language

Hilary Richardson (), Jorie Koster-Hale, Naomi Caselli, Rachel Magid, Rachel Benedict, Halie Olson, Jennie Pyers and Rebecca Saxe
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Hilary Richardson: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jorie Koster-Hale: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Naomi Caselli: Boston University
Rachel Magid: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Rachel Benedict: Boston University
Halie Olson: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jennie Pyers: Wellesley College
Rebecca Saxe: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Language provides a rich source of information about other people’s thoughts and feelings. Consequently, delayed access to language may influence conceptual development in Theory of Mind (ToM). We use functional magnetic resonance imaging and behavioral tasks to study ToM development in child (n = 33, 4–12 years old) and adult (n = 36) fluent signers of American Sign Language (ASL), and characterize neural ToM responses during ASL and movie-viewing tasks. Participants include deaf children whose first exposure to ASL was delayed up to 7 years (n = 12). Neural responses to ToM stories (specifically, selectivity of the right temporo-parietal junction) in these children resembles responses previously observed in young children, who have similar linguistic experience, rather than those in age-matched native-signing children, who have similar biological maturation. Early linguistic experience may facilitate ToM development, via the development of a selective brain region for ToM.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17004-y

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