# Mindreaders The Cognitive Basis of Theory of Mind **Opening (not a real abstract):** Theory of mind, or ``mindreading'' as it is termed in this book, is the ability to think about beliefs, desires, knowledge and intentions. It has been studied extensively by developmental and comparative psychologists and more recently by neuroscientists and cognitive psychologists. This book is the ®rst to draw together these diverse ®ndings in an account of the cognitive basis of ``theory of mind'', and establishes the systematic study of these abilities in adults as a new ®eld of enquiry. Apperly focuses on perceptions, knowledge and beliefs as paradigm cases of mindreading, and uses this as a basis from which more general lessons can be drawn. The book argues that an account of the cognitive basis of mindreading is necessary for making sense of ®ndings from neuroscience and developmental and comparative psychology, as well as for understanding how mindreading ®ts more broadly into the cognitive system. It **Authors:** [[Ian Apperly 2010]]