Mashal N, Faust M, Hendler T, Jung-Beeman M
The Leslie and Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Israel.
Brain Lang. 2007 Feb;100(2):115-26. doi: 10.1016/j.bandl.2005.10.005. Epub 2005 Nov 14.
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, ), 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.
利用功能磁共振成像（fMRI），对15名正常成年人组成的小组中与处理形成字面、新颖和传统隐喻表达的相关词对以及不相关词对相关的神经网络进行了研究。受试者阅读这四种类型的语言表达，并判断两个词之间存在何种关系（隐喻、字面或不相关）。根据分级显著性假说（GSH），该假说预测右半球（RH）在处理新颖、不显著意义时会有选择性地参与，主要是语言表达的意义显著性程度而非字面性或非字面性，调节着隐喻在左半球（LH）和右半球（RH）的处理程度。在本研究中，新颖隐喻表达代表不显著的解释，而传统隐喻和字面表达代表显著的解释。新颖隐喻与传统隐喻的直接比较显示，右后颞上沟、右下额回和左额中回有明显更强的活动。这些结果支持了GSH，并表明右半球在处理新颖隐喻中具有特殊作用。此外，右后颞上沟可能选择性地参与言语创造力。
