Unpacking Theory of Mind in developmental coordination disorder: the role of manual dexterity and perspective-taking
F. Manzi, G. Purpura, G. Peretti, V. Di Giusto, V. Caravella, D. Massaro, A. Marchetti, A. Cavallini · 2026
Read Unpacking Theory of Mind in developmental coordination disorder: the role of manual dexterity and perspective-taking by F. Manzi, G. Purpura, G. Peretti, V. Di Giusto, V. Caravella, D. Massaro, A. Marchetti, A. Cavallini (2026) in the Tower of Babel, a free online library of public-domain works preserved in clean, searchable text. No sign-up. The full text is served as a plain-text file at a predictable URL, where text is present: https://antarctic-labs.com/tower-of-babel/pmc-13279518.txt.
Description
F Manzi and colleagues published a 2026 study of theory of mind in children with developmental coordination disorder, defined by poor motor control with no intellectual or sensory disability. Theory of mind means grasping what others think and feel. Their social difficulties might reflect a broad weakness there or only specific gaps. Twenty children aged 7 to 11 completed intelligence and motor tests plus a battery covering perspective-taking, false-belief reasoning, and emotional understanding. Parents rated social difficulties.
The components behaved differently. Perspective-taking tracked with manual dexterity and was predicted by it after accounting for age, gender, and social symptoms. Understanding others' emotions related instead to verbal skill. Advanced theory of mind leaned on IQ and working memory. Second-order false-belief reasoning showed no significant links. The authors conclude the social-cognitive profile is uneven rather than globally impaired. They suggest therapy should consider how motor skill supports perspective-taking.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | F. Manzi, G. Purpura, G. Peretti, V. Di Giusto, V. Caravella, D. Massaro, A. Marchetti, A. Cavallini |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 30 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |