An Event-Related Potential Study Of College Students In False Belief Tasks

Theory of mind means the individual's understanding and cognition of his and others'mental states such as desires, beliefs and intentions, and the ability to predict and explain others'behaviors. Theory of mind is one of the most active fields in psychological studies. Classic false belief tasks have been widely used in the previous studies. However, there are few of ERP studies of first-order false belief and second-order false-belief systematically by now.In this paper, 11 undergraduate students in school who were paid for the ERP tests systematically accomplished first-order false belief tasks and second-order false belief tasks. The present dissertation consists of three ERP studies. The first one is designed to examine the ERPs differences between the truth question and the first-order belief question. The second one is to explore the ERPs differences between the truth question and the second-order false belief question. The last one examined the ERPs differences between the first-order false belief question and the second-order belief question. The three conclusions have been drawn as follows:1. ERPs were recorded while the college students accomplished the first-order false belief tasks. The amplitudes of P200 for the first-order false belief questions were positive higher than the truth questions. The differences between the truth questions and first-order belief questions started from 700ms-1500ms, during when the mean amplitudes of the late component of the first-order belief questions generated in central areas were significantly positivity than that of the truth questions generated in frontal and back areas. The interaction of tasks and left-middle-right shows significant differences during 500-700ms and 1300-1400ms. Two questions show significant differences in the middle area. During 600ms-800ms, the mean amplitudes of the late component induced by the first-order false belief questions were more positivity than that of late component induced by the truth questions in left& right areas and in middle& right areas.2. ERPs were recorded while the college students accomplished the second-order false belief tasks. The difference of the response time between the truth questions and the second-order false belief questions is almost significant. The response time of the truth questions is longer than that of the second-order false belief questions. Task main effect of the late component induced by the two kinds of questions is significant during 400ms-800ms. The mean amplitudes of the late component induced by the second-order false belief questions were significantly positive higher than that of the truth questions. The front-middle-back areas main effect is significant during 700-900ms and 1100-1500ms, during when the mean amplitudes of the late component of the second-order belief questions generated in central areas were significantly positivity than that of the truth questions generated in frontal and back areas. The interaction of tasks and left-middle-right shows significant differences during 700-800ms.Two questions show significant differences in the middle and right areas.3. Task main effect of the late components induced by the first-order false belief questions and the second-order false belief questions is significant during 300ms-500ms and 1000-1400ms. The mean amplitudes of the late component induced by the second-order false belief questions were significantly positive higher than that of the first-order false belief questions. The front-middle-back areas main effect is significant during 700-1500ms, during when the mean amplitudes of the late component of the second-order belief questions generated in central areas were significantly positivity than that of the first-order false belief questions generated in frontal and back areas. The interaction of tasks and left-middle-right shows significant differences during 800-1300ms.