Theory of Mind Tasks Across Cultures: A Review of Measurement Invariance

Authors

  • Henrike Frielinghausen Centre for Social Neuroscience, Kellerwald Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Bad Wildungen, Germany Author
  • Ilde Foschini Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Val di Chiana Centre for Brain and Behaviour, Montepulciano, Italy Author
  • Eugen Braunsberger Centre for Research Methods, Bregenzerwald Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Bezau, Austria Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22680968

Keywords:

Theory of Mind Tasks Across Cultures; Cognitive neuroscience; Neurofeedback; Evidence synthesis; Research methodology

Abstract

Theory of Mind Tasks Across Cultures has moved quickly from a niche scientific question to something a wider community can
now investigate with reasonably reliable tools, but the evidence behind it has not always kept pace. We pull together the current
evidence for theory of mind tasks across cultures, covering the methodological, practical, regulatory and cost angles, with an eye
on where practice has genuinely settled and where researchers and reviewers are still largely working it out for themselves.
Selective, context-specific pursuit looks better supported by the evidence gathered here than either broad rollout or blanket
avoidance.

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Published

2025-08-11