The neural basis of non-literal language processing: A meta-analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging studies
Hauptman, Miriam E.
2019
- Researchers of non-literal language (e.g., humor, metaphor, indirect speech) have traditionally sought to establish whether different cognitive mechanisms support non-literal vs. literal language processing. Previous approaches treated processing time and hemispheric lateralization as indicators of the recruitment of different cognitive mechanisms in non-literal language processing. In the ... read morepresent meta-analysis, we attempted to overcome methodological challenges of these paradigms by exploring the extent to which non-literal language processing is associated with neural activation in three distinct functional networks. Specifically, we analyzed whether activation peaks from 71 fMRI experiments (770 total peaks) reported in contrasts of non-literal vs. literal language processing fell into the language, multiple demand (MD), and theory of mind (ToM) networks. These networks become robustly and selectively activated when individuals perform tasks that engage cognitive processes presumably involved in non-literal language processing. Our analysis indicated that 1) peaks from non-literal vs. literal language contrasts fell into the language and ToM networks at above-chance levels, 2) a high number of the peaks are located in the right hemisphere, and 3) different types of non-literal language phenomena can be separated into three groupings based on their relationships to the functional networks of interest. Together, our findings suggest that different combinations of cognitive resources may indeed support non-literal vs. literal language processing, though more work is needed to clarify the exact nature of these differences. Future investigations into the neural basis of non-literal language processing should continue to incorporate functional network-based analyses in order to further explore the relationships between linguistic processing, executive function, and mentalizing and non-literal language processing.read less
- ID:
- gf06gg34b
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