{"title":"Theory of mind as a mediator between executive functions and future-oriented thinking in adult teacher candidates of Science in Saudi Arabia.","authors":"Ashwaq Hamzah Ali Alturki","doi":"10.1080/23279095.2026.2716893","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2026.2716893","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this study, the focus is on theory of mind as a mediator variable in the relationship between executive functions and future-oriented thinking. Participants were 320 adultteacher candidates of Science in Saudi Arabia (48.43% female, <i>N</i> = 155; 51.56% male, <i>N</i> = 165; aged 20 to 24 years, M age = 21.50, SD = 0.98). Participant selection was based on availability and access to the sample. The research falls within the post-positivist paradigm, employing a quantitative approach, and a descriptive, correlational, and mediation analysis scope. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the correlation between theory of mind, executive functions and future-oriented thinking. The results showed that thinking about the future can have a significant correlation with the executive functions of adult teacher candidates of Science in Saudi Arabia. The results also showed that theory of mind correlates positively with executive functions. This foresight correlates his/her ToM, and they can predict and understand themselves and the mental states of others. Since EFs are a higher cognitive and metacognitive ability, higher levels of ToM can be associated with EFs.</p>","PeriodicalId":51308,"journal":{"name":"Applied Neuropsychology-Adult","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148801412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Frontal cortical activity during dominant and non-dominant handwriting in healthy adults: an fNIRS study.","authors":"Nobuhiro Takahashi, Mimpei Kawamura, Yasutaka Kobayashi","doi":"10.1080/23279095.2026.2719743","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2026.2719743","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Handwriting integrates linguistic and motor processes and is a complex neuropsychological function. We investigated whether frontal cortical activity during written object naming differs between dominant- and non-dominant-hand writing. Sixteen healthy right-handed adults performed written-naming and circle-drawing motor-control tasks with the dominant right and non-dominant left hands while measuring bilateral frontal cortical hemodynamic responses using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Writing-related activity was defined as the difference in oxygenated hemoglobin responses between written naming and corresponding motor-control conditions. Three-factor repeated-measures ANOVA showed a significant main effect of Hemisphere, with greater written-naming-minus-motor-control responses in the left than in the right hemisphere (<i>F</i>(1, 15) = 11.87, Holm-adjusted <i>p</i> = .025, ηp<sup>2</sup> = .442). Hand showed no significant main or interaction effects. Writing duration was longer with the non-dominant hand (<i>t</i>(15) = 3.56, <i>p</i> = .0028, Cohen's <i>d</i>z = 0.89), whereas writing onset latency did not differ significantly between hands. These findings indicate an overall left-lateralized pattern of frontal activity associated with written naming across both hand conditions. However, the absence of significant Hand-related effects should not be interpreted as evidence of equivalent frontal responses between dominant- and non-dominant-hand writing. The findings provide a healthy-adult reference for future studies of compensatory writing following dominant-hand impairment.</p>","PeriodicalId":51308,"journal":{"name":"Applied Neuropsychology-Adult","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148801309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The predictive role of executive function and verbal ability on theory of mind in adults with visual impairment in Saudi Arabia context.","authors":"Adel Abed H Alkhaldi","doi":"10.1080/23279095.2026.2718361","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2026.2718361","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>It is thought that many behaviors that occur in daily life, especially during social communication, are influenced by ToM skills.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive role of executive function and verbal ability on theory of mind development in adults with visual impairment in Saudi Arabia context.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Participants volunteered for this study at a nonprofit organization for visually impaired in Saudi Arabia. A total of 110 subjects were selected to participate in the study. Participants ranged in age from 30-70, with a mean age of 50. Advanced ToM, Cognitive Spare Capacity Test and the vocabulary subtest in the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale were used.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings indicated that executive function and verbal ability directly predicted theory of mind. The three variables were correlated positively and significantly. The indirect effects of executive function on theory of mind via verbal ability (standardized indirect effect = 0.40, <i>p</i> < 0.01, 95% BC CIs = 0.20-0.59) were significant.</p><p><strong>Discussion/conclusion: </strong>The current study provides evidence that executive function and verbal ability play a predictive role on theory of mind in adults with visual impairment. The findings provide direction for further research in this area.</p>","PeriodicalId":51308,"journal":{"name":"Applied Neuropsychology-Adult","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148764210","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The mediating role of theory of mind in the relationship between executive functions and perceived academic self-efficacy in Saudi young adults with intellectual giftedness.","authors":"Manar Mohammed Haneefa","doi":"10.1080/23279095.2026.2714318","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2026.2714318","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The objective of this research is to study whether Theory of Mind (ToM) mediates the relationship between executive functions (EFs)and perceived academic self-efficacy (PASE) in Saudi young adults with intellectual giftedness.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Three hundred and twenty young adults participated in this study. They were 180 females (56.25%) and 140 (43.75%). All of them were identified as intellectually gifted. The mean age was 22.4 years old, (SD = 1.01). Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were performed using SPSS 24.0 software, with missing values of variables replaced by serial means. The mediation model was tested using the SPSS macroprocess program.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Positive correlations between EFs and PASE were revealed. Significant negative correlations between ToM and PASE were found. ToM played a mediating role in the relationship between EFs and PASE.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The ability to use executive functions strengthens students' sense of self-efficacy and allows them to develop greater confidence in their academic abilities.</p>","PeriodicalId":51308,"journal":{"name":"Applied Neuropsychology-Adult","volume":" ","pages":"1-5"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148708526","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ali Jafarian, Fatemeh Keshmiri Nasrabadi, Mehrshad Khosraviani
{"title":"Machine learning-based prediction of subjective cognitive impairment levels in cancer survivors using demographic predictors.","authors":"Ali Jafarian, Fatemeh Keshmiri Nasrabadi, Mehrshad Khosraviani","doi":"10.1080/23279095.2026.2716173","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2026.2716173","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Cancer-related cognitive impairment is a decline in cognitive functioning following cancer treatment that negatively affects survivors' quality of life. Self-report tools such as the Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (CFQ) offer a rapid and cost-effective method for early detection of subjective cognitive difficulties. This study aimed to develop and compare machine learning models using demographic variables to classify subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) severity into low, moderate, and high levels.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data from 437 cancer survivors were analyzed. SCI severity was defined based on self-reported CFQ scores. Demographic predictors included age, gender, marital status, education, and occupation. Four supervised machine learning algorithms, Logistic Regression (LR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), and k-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), were applied for multiclass classification. Model performance was evaluated using accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), F1-score and area under the ROC curve (AUC), with stratified 5-fold cross-validation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>LR model demonstrated the best performance (accuracy = 0.89, AUC = 0.95), followed by SVM (accuracy = 0.86, AUC = 0.95), ANN (accuracy = 0.85, AUC = 0.93), and KNN (accuracy = 0.82, AUC = 0.91).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Logistic Regression provided the most robust and interpretable results. These findings support the utility of simple demographic-based models as noninvasive tools that may support early supportive screening of subjective cognitive difficulties in cancer survivorship care. However, external validation using independent datasets is required.</p>","PeriodicalId":51308,"journal":{"name":"Applied Neuropsychology-Adult","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148708513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ara Nazmiyal, Benjamin J Lovett, Allyson G Harrison
{"title":"Effects of incorporating emotion dysregulation into ADHD diagnostic criteria.","authors":"Ara Nazmiyal, Benjamin J Lovett, Allyson G Harrison","doi":"10.1080/23279095.2026.2713190","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2026.2713190","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Emotion dysregulation (ED) is common in ADHD, and a source of greater clinical impairment. Current official diagnostic criteria for ADHD do not include ED symptoms, although some scholars have proposed revisions to address this issue. The present study examined how substituting elevated ED for elevated hyperactivity-impulsivity would change which postsecondary students meeting a combined-presentation symptom threshold. Archival data from 2,459 postsecondary students referred for a neuropsychological evaluation were analyzed. Participants completed a standard rating scale of ADHD symptoms as well as at least one ED measure. The proportions meeting the traditional and ED-inclusive symptom thresholds were similar: 22.1% met the traditional combined-presentation threshold, whereas 21.7% and 22.3% met two different ED-inclusive thresholds. Agreement between the traditional and ED-inclusive classifications was moderate (<i>φ</i> = .34-.37), and the ED-inclusive groups contained higher proportions of female participants (60-68%) than the traditional ADHD symptom group did (52%). Thus, substituting ED produced similarly sized but only partially overlapping symptom-threshold groups. These findings do not establish improved diagnostic accuracy or support a particular revision to ADHD criteria; rather, they demonstrate that substituting ED for traditional hyperactivity-impulsivity changes who meets the symptom threshold while leaving the overall proportion classified largely unchanged.</p>","PeriodicalId":51308,"journal":{"name":"Applied Neuropsychology-Adult","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148708574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jared Cherry, Brian M Cerny, Steven A Miller, Matthew S Phillips, Eddie P Caumiant, Enchi Dai, Karishma Patel, Nathan T Palladino, Kellye Winbush Fairley, Thomas A Sedgwick, Malorie E Watson, Jason R Soble
{"title":"Latent profile analysis of the MMPI-2-RF in ADHD evaluations.","authors":"Jared Cherry, Brian M Cerny, Steven A Miller, Matthew S Phillips, Eddie P Caumiant, Enchi Dai, Karishma Patel, Nathan T Palladino, Kellye Winbush Fairley, Thomas A Sedgwick, Malorie E Watson, Jason R Soble","doi":"10.1080/23279095.2026.2714319","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2026.2714319","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Assessment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among adults is complicated by high psychiatric comorbidity and symptom overlap, increasing the risk of potential diagnostic misclassification. This study used a Three-Step Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) to identify distinct Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF), Restructured Clinical (RC) scale profiles in a mixed clinical sample seeking ADHD evaluation (<i>n</i> = 546). Three latent profiles emerged: a low-symptom profile, a somatic-depressed-threat sensitive profile, and a primarily demoralized profile. Profiles were not associated with ADHD diagnosis alone or most ADHD comorbidities. However, the profiles differed significantly in the probability of depression diagnoses, anxiety diagnoses, and combined ADHD/depression/anxiety diagnoses. Findings suggest MMPI-2-RF RC scale profiles are informative for identifying internalizing psychopathology and diagnostic complexity but lack specificity for ADHD. Results underscore the utility of MMPI-2-RF, RC scale-based latent profiles in disentangling diagnostic heterogeneity and the importance of multimethod assessment in adult ADHD evaluations.</p>","PeriodicalId":51308,"journal":{"name":"Applied Neuropsychology-Adult","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148686566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Damla Aygün Gürbüz, Leyla Kaya Öztürk, Ebru Umay, Esra Akı
{"title":"Executive functions: Relationships with activities of daily living, social problem-solving, and participation.","authors":"Damla Aygün Gürbüz, Leyla Kaya Öztürk, Ebru Umay, Esra Akı","doi":"10.1080/23279095.2026.2713192","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2026.2713192","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Stroke affects not only motor abilities but also cognitive and social functioning, resulting in complex life changes. This study investigated the relationship between executive functions and activities of daily living (ADL), social problem-solving, and participation among stroke survivors. A total of 110 individuals with stroke and 28 healthy controls participated. The control group completed the Executive Function Performance Test (EFPT), and stroke participants were grouped based on EFPT scores. Pearson's correlation and linear regression analyses examined the relationships and predictive effects, while group differences were assessed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Stroke survivors with executive dysfunction showed significantly poorer ADL performance and social problem-solving skills than those without impairment, although no significant difference was observed in participation. Executive functions were significantly correlated with both basic and instrumental ADL and problem-solving styles. Executive functions accounted for 27% of the variance in ADL, 16% in instrumental ADL, and 37% in social problem-solving. The findings highlight the adverse impact of executive dysfunction on daily functioning and cognitive skills post-stroke. However, no significant association was found with participation. These results underscore the importance of targeted rehabilitation strategies to address executive function impairments in stroke recovery.</p>","PeriodicalId":51308,"journal":{"name":"Applied Neuropsychology-Adult","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148686603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Beyond global scores: Addenbrooke Cognitive Examination III domain-level profiles reveal heterogeneity within clinically confirmed subjective cognitive decline.","authors":"Anna Barczak","doi":"10.1080/23279095.2026.2713768","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2026.2713768","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a heterogeneous clinical condition; however, routine cognitive screening primarily relies on global scores, which may obscure meaningful cognitive variability. This study examined whether domain-level analysis of the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III (ACE-III) could identify distinct cognitive profiles within clinically confirmed SCD, even when global cognitive performance is preserved.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study included 370 help-seeking adults aged ≥60 years with clinically confirmed SCD, established through comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. Gaussian mixture modeling was applied to standardized ACE-III Memory, Fluency, and Visuospatial domain scores to identify latent cognitive profiles.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three cognitive profiles were identified: Reassurance (64%), Lower-efficiency (23%), and Visuospatial-low (13%). Visuospatial was the principal domain differentiating the profiles and the only one to distinguish all groups. The greatest between-profile differences were observed for Clock Drawing and other visuoconstructional tasks. Profile membership was not explained by age or educational attainment.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Clinically confirmed SCD is characterized by meaningful cognitive heterogeneity, even when global cognitive performance is preserved. Qualitative interpretation of ACE-III domain scores may complement conventional total-score assessment and enhance the characterization of cognitive variability in individuals with SCD. Longitudinal studies incorporating biomarkers and neuroimaging are required to determine the prognostic significance of these profiles.</p>","PeriodicalId":51308,"journal":{"name":"Applied Neuropsychology-Adult","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148680789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Edward D Rossini, Jeffrey M Kunka, Jeri Morris, Justin D Numerick, James P Choca
{"title":"Teaching the Halstead Category Test: A survey of post-doctoral fellowships in adult clinical neuropsychology.","authors":"Edward D Rossini, Jeffrey M Kunka, Jeri Morris, Justin D Numerick, James P Choca","doi":"10.1080/23279095.2026.2712519","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2026.2712519","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Halstead Category Test (HCT) is considered among the most sensitive measures for detecting global neurological impairment. Although its ability to localize neurological dysfunction or to assess executive function has been questioned, its demonstrated diagnostic sensitivity to overall cognitive dysfunction remains widely accepted. Nevertheless, its use has declined significantly over the years, owing to complaints regarding the original cumbersome equipment, labor-intensive administration, and overall length. These criticisms were addressed over 30 years ago with the introduction of convenient computer software and validated HCT short forms. This survey examined whether any version of the HCT was being taught in post-doctoral fellowships in adult clinical neuropsychology. Training directors reported that the majority of trainees (63%) were not taught any version of the HCT. A minority were provided only informal training. Several supervisors reported not having been trained on the HCT themselves. Some expressed interest in computer administration and using available HCT short forms, yet these were rarely employed. The findings suggest that concerted promotion of convenient versions of the HCT is required in order for the test not to fall into obsolescence.</p>","PeriodicalId":51308,"journal":{"name":"Applied Neuropsychology-Adult","volume":" ","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148674586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}