Evaluation of social cognition in post stroke patients: a hemispheric analysis

Introduction: Social cognition is an increasingly explored field of research in the study of post-acquired brain injury psychiatric disorders, encompasses a number of domains including theory of mind (ToM). The ToM refers to the ability to understand, infer emotions, and predict the behavior of others. ToM deficits can impair information processing, and the laterality of the brain injury can influence the level of impairment. Objectives: To investigate whether laterality of the post-stroke hemispheric lesion influences performance on ToM tasks. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study, with chronic post-stroke subjects, aged ≥18 years, without cognitive deficits suggestive by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). The volunteers were submitted to a single evaluation using the Theory of Mind Task Battery (ToM TB) in its version translated and adapted to Portuguese (Brazil). The participants were allocated into two groups: group with right hemisphere injury (RHI) and group with left hemisphere injury (LHI). Comparative statistics were performed based on the ToM TB scores between the two groups using Student’s t-test. Results: Thirty-eight participants (RHI=22 and LHI=16) were included. There was no difference between the RHI and LHI group regarding social cognition assessed by ToM TB (t=1.63; p=0.11). Conclusion: The laterality of brain injury appears to not influence the level of performance on ToM tasks in stroke survivors.