关键词: 心理理论；模块论；模拟论；理论论；执行阐释

Abstract: Theory of mind (ToM) refers to the ability to represent ones own and others desire, belief, intention ,and so on, in order to predict others behaviors.ToM is a critic research question in both development psychology and social neuroscience. As the field of psychology diversifies, in the present in the study of ToM, developmental psychologists and social neuroscientists should increase communication with each other. Currently, theory of mind include modularity theories, simulation theories, theory theory and executive accounts, each theory was supported and questioned by social neuroscience research. At least, four issues currently have challenged the neural evidence for ToM. In the future, we should focus on structural and functional changes in brain areas associated with ToM development; and we should also examine training or genetics influence on neural changes that accompany ToM development and use transcranial magnetic stimulation to examine the brain areas that associate with simulation, conceptual advances, and executive function.

Key words: theory of mind; modularity theory; simulation theory; theory theory; executive account