Authors
Abstract
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the executive functions (EF) such as: organizing, planning and inhibition and theory of mind (ToM) in students with math disorder (MD) and ordinary students and surveying the relationship between EF and ToM.
Method: The present study was a cross-sectional analysis. The statistical sample composed of the boys and girls students of primary schools in Tehran in 2012. Twenty ordinary elementary students (7/2=m age) with Twenty mathematics disorder elementary students were chosen which are based on the criteria of American Psychiatric Association. Then their executive functions and theory of mind were analyzed, and the results were compared. For gathering data neurological and psychological tests, standard diagnostic test with coolige (2002) and test of intelligence Raven and theory of mind are used. The data were analyzed with independent t test and Pearson correlation with Spss software (version11).
Result: Executive function performance in mathematics disorder students had difference with ordinary students in organizing (t=2/42), determination - planning (t=2/61) and inhibition (t=2/10). Students with mathematics disorder were weaker than ordinary students in emotional recognition (t=2/61), understanding wrong belief (t=2/21) and understanding joke (t=2/09). The test of executive function and theory of mind had a high correlation (r=+ 0/61).
Conclusion: This study shows that students with mathematics disorder compared with normal students have problems in executive functions and theory of mind.
Keywords
)