Second-Order False Belief in People with Williams Syndrome

Purpose: Only two studies have examined the second-order false belief mentalizing ability of people with Williams syndrome (WS). The exact age in one study that successfully passed the advanced complex mentalizing ability exceeded nine years in chronological age. Another study reported failure to pass second-order false-belief tasks among people with WS at an averagely of 8.56 years in their mental age. This study aimed to examine the nature of the second-order mentalizing ability of people with WS using computerized animations to investigate the possibility of rehabilitation. Methods: Advanced technology of three-dimensional (3D) animation clips was used as an experimental tool. People with WS viewed clips in a quiet room without interruption. After watching each clip, people with WS answered the following questions: character recognition, reality, memory, and second-order false beliefs. Responses from people with WS were recorded and analyzed. Results: The mental passing age of the second-order false-belief task in people with WS in the current study was 7.14 years. People with WS improved their mentalizing ability to the advanced, complex mental states of other people using computerized animation clips. People with WS performed better with 3D animation stimuli than with traditional two-dimensional (2D) stimuli. Conclusion: With 3D animation clips, people with neurodevelopmental disabilities can induce second-order false belief mentalizing abilities, as shown in people with WS.