Do we need theory of mind to engage in joint attention and action?

Joint attention has been considered as a classical case for studying the properties and development of theory of mind. But sensorimotor approaches provide an alternative explanation. This Scholarpedia article reviews the literature on joint attention from the sensorimotor perspective and explains its components and underlying neuronal mechanisms. It concludes that sensorimotor processes may have a prominent role in preparing and coordinating the activities in joint action.