Apperly Ian A
School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
Cognition. 2008 Apr;107(1):266-83. doi: 10.1016/j.cognition.2007.07.019. Epub 2007 Sep 14.
The debate between Simulation-Theory (ST) and Theory-Theory (TT) provides the dominant theoretical framework for research on "theory of mind" (ToM). Behavioural research has failed to provide clear methods for discriminating between these theories, but a number of recent studies have claimed that neuroimaging methods do allow key predictions of ST and TT to be tested. In the current paper it is argued that neuroimaging studies have not in fact provided any data that discriminates between ST and TT accounts of propositional attitude ascription, and moreover that it is uncertain that they will in the future. However, it is also argued that the fault lies with the ST/TT debate, not with the methods and concepts of neuroimaging research. Neuroimaging can certainly contribute to our understanding of ToM, and should contribute to the project of developing theoretical models more firmly grounded in specific cognitive and neural processes than ST or TT.
模拟理论（ST）和理论理论（TT）之间的争论为“心理理论”（ToM）的研究提供了主导性的理论框架。行为研究未能提供区分这些理论的清晰方法，但最近的一些研究声称，神经成像方法确实能够对ST和TT的关键预测进行检验。在当前论文中，有人认为神经成像研究实际上并未提供任何能够区分ST和TT对命题态度归因解释的数据，而且未来能否做到也不确定。然而，也有人认为问题在于ST/TT之争，而非神经成像研究的方法和概念。神经成像肯定有助于我们对ToM的理解，并且应该有助于开展这样一个项目，即开发比ST或TT更牢固地基于特定认知和神经过程的理论模型。
