An fMRI investigation of the neural correlates underlying the processing of novel metaphoric expressions

The neural networks associated with processing related pairs of words forming literal, novel, and conventional metaphorical expressions and unrelated pairs of words were studied in a group of 15 normal adults using fMRI. Subjects read the four types of linguistic expressions and decided which relati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brain and language 2007-02, Vol.100 (2), p.115-126
Main Authors: Mashal, N., Faust, M., Hendler, T., Jung-Beeman, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adults
Attention - physiology
Brain Hemisphere Functions
Brain Mapping
Cerebral Cortex - physiopathology
Comparative Analysis
Comprehension - physiology
Diagnostic Tests
Dominance, Cerebral - physiology
Female
Figurative Language
fMRI
Frontal Lobe - physiology
Humans
Language Processing
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Metaphor
Nerve Net - physiology
Neurolinguistics
Novel metaphors
PSTS
Psycholinguistics
Right hemisphere
Salience
Salient
Semantics
Temporal Lobe - physiology
Verbal creativity
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Summary:The neural networks associated with processing related pairs of words forming literal, novel, and conventional metaphorical expressions and unrelated pairs of words were studied in a group of 15 normal adults using fMRI. Subjects read the four types of linguistic expressions and decided which relation exists between the two words (metaphoric, literal, or unrelated). According to the Graded Salience Hypothesis (GSH, Giora, 1997, 2002, 2003), which predicts a selective RH involvement in the processing of novel, nonsalient meanings, it is primarily the degree of meaning salience of a linguistic expression rather than literality or nonliterality, which modulates the degree of left hemisphere (LH) and right hemisphere (RH) processing of metaphors. In the present study, novel metaphorical expressions represented the nonsalient interpretations, whereas conventional metaphors and literal expressions represented the salient interpretations. A direct comparison of the novel metaphors vs. the conventional metaphors revealed significantly stronger activity in right posterior superior temporal sulcus, right inferior frontal gyrus, and left middle frontal gyrus. These results support the GSH and suggest a special role for the RH in processing novel metaphors. Furthermore, the right PSTS may be selectively involved in verbal creativity.
ISSN:0093-934X
1090-2155
DOI:10.1016/j.bandl.2005.10.005