Training effects were measured using the strange stories (practiced task) and the animation task (transfer task).
Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the ToM training (age range: 63–81 years) and the physical-conversation training (age range: 64–81 years). Participants were 63 healthy older adults, native Italian speakers (Mage = 71.44, SD = 5.24, age range: 63–81 years). We provided older adults with a variety of activities designed to facilitate the generalization of benefits to other ToM-demanding tasks. The present study was designed to address this gap in the literature by evaluating the impact of a ToM training on practiced and transfer tasks. Very few studies have investigated whether it is possible to improve older adults’ ToM abilities. Recent research in this area has shown a decline in ToM abilities associated with normal aging that is of a moderate magnitude or greater.
Theory of Mind (ToM) refers to the ability to attribute independent mental states to self and others in order to explain and predict social behavior.
