2026 ECNP Congress

PS04-4182

From inhibition to context sensitivity: distinct executive function contributions to social cognition

Regilla Bastian — P. Riedel · Technische Universität Dresden, Faculty of Psychology, Dresden, Germany

2026 ECNP Congress

Executive functions (EF) are often described as general prerequisites for social cognition (SC), but this view may be overly simplistic [1]. Here, we examine whether distinct EF components (Inhibition and Flexibility) relate differentially to distinct SC components (Empathy and Theory of Mind).

These preliminary analyses include pilot data from 12 participants who completed three behavioral tasks and three self-report questionnaires. Behavioral inhibition is examined via interference scores in a Counting Stroop Task. Behavioral flexibility is examined via perseveration switch costs and learned-irrelevance switch costs for incongruent trials in a Set-Switch Task. Higher perseveration costs reflect poorer disengagement from prior important information, whereas higher learned-irrelevance costs reflect greater sensitivity to novel information. Self-reported flexibility is assessed via Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI) scores. Behavioral empathy and Theory of Mind (ToM) are examined via the EmpaToM Task. Self-reported empathy and ToM are assessed via Cognitive and Affective Empathy (QCAE) and Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) subscales.

We expected distinct associations between EF and SC components. Better inhibition (lower interference costs) was expected to relate to better EmpaToM outcomes [2], while directionality for flexibility (switch costs) remained exploratory.

For empathy, behavioral inhibition (Stroop IES interference) was most clearly and negatively associated with behavioral empathy (EmpaToM) (rho = -.857, p = .014). Behavioral flexibility (perseveration costs) related negatively to empathy self-report (QCAE affective) (rho = -.596, p = .041). That is, better empathy links to better inhibitory control and better disengagement from previous information. Self-report flexibility (CFI), in contrast, did not align with behavioral empathy. Behavioral empathy (EmpaToM) showed a trend-level association with self-report empathy (QCAE affective) (rho = .569, p = .110). Overall, empathy-related results suggest that behavioral empathy is more linked to behavioral inhibition and flexibility than to broad (self-reported) cognitive flexibility.

For ToM, behavioral flexibility showed a different pattern. Behavioral ToM (EmpaToM) showed a positive trend with behavioral flexibility (learned-irrelevance costs) (rho = .571, p = .139). This suggests that behavioral ToM may relate to a sensitivity to novel information. Behavioral flexibility (learned-irrelevance costs) also related to self-reported ToM (QCAE cognitive) (rho = .589, p = .044). Self-reported flexibility (CFI) partially converged with self-reported ToM (QCAE cognitive: rho = .587, p = .045; IRI perspective taking: rho = .505, p = .094), but not with behavioral ToM. Behavioral ToM did not significantly correlate with self-report ToM, consistent with prior findings [3,4]. Overall, ToM results may indicate that openness to novel contextual cues, although costly within a task, may be relevant for taking others’ perspectives.

Our findings challenge the simplistic view that executive functions are general prerequisites for social cognition. Instead, distinct EF may relate to distinct SC components: Empathy to inhibition and disengagement, and ToM to sensitivity to novel information. Despite small samples, robustness checks suggested directional stability. Further data will be included by the time of the poster presentation.

References

  1. Decety, J., & Meyer, M. (2008). From emotion resonance to empathic understanding: a social developmental neuroscience account. Development and psychopathology, 20(4), 1053–1080. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579408000503
  2. Eslinger, P. J. (1998). Neurological and Neuropsychological Bases of Empathy. European Neurology, 39(4), 193–199. https://doi.org/10.1159/000007933
  3. Breil, C., Kanske, P., Pittig, R. et al. A revised instrument for the assessment of empathy and Theory of Mind in adolescents: Introducing the EmpaToM-Y. Behav Res 53, 2487–2501 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-021-01589-3
  4. Hildebrandt, M. K., Jauk, E., Lehmann, K., Maliske, L., & Kanske, P. (2021). Brain activation during social cognition predicts everyday perspective-taking: A combined fMRI and ecological momentary assessment study of the social brain. NeuroImage, 227, 117624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117624