Theory of Mind and the Whole Brain Functional Connectivity: Behavioral and Neural Evidences with the Amsterdam Resting State Questionnaire.
Antonella Marchetti, Francesca Baglio, Isa Costantini, Ottavia Dipasquale, Federica Savazzi, Raffaello Nemni, Francesca Sangiuliano Intra, Semira Tagliabue, Annalisa Valle, Davide Massaro, Ilaria Castelli
Frontiers in Psychology 2015 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01855 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Psychometric validation and cross-sectional neuroimaging study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 670 |
| Population | Italian adults; a subsample of 28 participants was divided into high and low ToM factor score groups |
| Measures | Amsterdam Resting State Questionnaire (ARSQ) |
| Keywords | Functional connectivity fc Graph analysis Resting state components |
| Key findings | The ARSQ showed satisfactory reliability of its original seven-factor structure in an Italian sample of 670. Among 28 participants, those with high ToM factor scores showed a 48-node network with higher functional connectivity, predominantly in the left hemisphere, and increased within-lobe connectivity in frontal and insular lobes compared with low scorers. The authors argue this supports the view that the resting mind has mentalistic-like contents. |
Abstract
A topic of common interest to psychologists and philosophers is the spontaneous flow of thoughts when the individual is awake but not involved in cognitive demands. This argument, classically referred to as the "stream of consciousness" of James, is now known in the psychological literature as "Mind-Wandering." Although of great interest, this construct has been scarcely investigated so far. Diaz et al. (2013) created the Amsterdam Resting State Questionnaire (ARSQ), composed of 27 items, distributed in seven factors: discontinuity of mind, theory of mind (ToM), self, planning, sleepiness, comfort, and somatic awareness. The present study aims at: testing psychometric properties of the ARSQ in a sample of 670 Italian subjects; exploring the neural correlates of a subsample of participants (N = 28) divided into two groups on the basis of the scores obtained in the ToM factor. Results show a satisfactory reliability of the original factional structure in the Italian sample. In the subjects with a high mean in the ToM factor compared to low mean subjects, functional MRI revealed: a network (48 nodes) with higher functional connectivity (FC) with a dominance of the left hemisphere; an increased within-lobe FC in frontal and insular lobes. In both neural and behavioral terms, our results support the idea that the mind, which does not rest even when explicitly asked to do so, has various and interesting mentalistic-like contents.
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Meta-analytic evidence that mindfulness training alters resting state default mode network connectivity Scientific Reports July 18, 2022
- Electrophysiological and Behavioural Markers of Novice State Mindfulness in Relation to Trait Mindfulness, Values, Personality Traits and Academic Dispositions Annals of Neurosciences September 8, 2025
- Disrupting The Resting State: Meta-Analytic Evidence That Mindfulness Training Alters Default Mode Network Connectivity Research Square January 6, 2022
- Neurobehavioural Group Differences in an Indian Holistic Education Context: Mindfulness, Empathy, Values and Personality Across Gender and Academic Pathways. Annals of Neurosciences February 23, 2026
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