Study of communication in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS): Disorders of the pragmatics of language, theory of mind and facial emotion processing

Abstract

Along with the development of knowledge about cognitive abnormalities in MS, various clinical observations report neurobehavioral changes in this disease [1] . However, there is a lack of research on social behavior regulation skills. The few studies conducted in this field investigated emotional processing and theory of mind skills. Results suggest impairment in both aspects for part of the MS population and they closely follow the results achieved in others conditions. Our aim is to report communication profile of two single cases. Various pragmatic tests, based on previous research in brain-damaged patients [2] are proposed (conversation, comprehension and metapragmatic knowledge). Mentalizing abilities and facial emotion processing are assessed using a multidimensional and ecological approach. The observations have enabled us to identify several performance patterns according to the different situations of language in context but also according to the results achieved with other social cognition tests. Although it is an essential component for our interaction regulation, the issue of social analysis of language in MS has not yet been deeply explored on a wide range of pragmatic skills. Thus, the research project COGNISEP aims to evaluate communication skills of MS patients with relapsing–remitting form of the disease, from the assessment of pragmatic abilities in situations of language production and comprehension, but also from the evaluation of mentalizing skills and facial emotion processing.