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

Author

Listed:
  • Hilary Richardson

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Boston Children’s Hospital
    Harvard Medical School)

  • 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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Hilary Richardson & Jorie Koster-Hale & Naomi Caselli & Rachel Magid & Rachel Benedict & Halie Olson & Jennie Pyers & Rebecca Saxe, 2020. "Reduced neural selectivity for mental states in deaf children with delayed exposure to sign language," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-17004-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17004-y
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