Metaphor processing is influenced by stimulus emotionality and task demands: Evidence from ERPs

Laura Baiocco, Valeria A. Pfeifer, Vicky T. Lai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Past studies showed that metaphoric expressions (e.g., “she was cold to him”) require more cognitive-neural effort than literal paraphrases (e.g., “she was indifferent to him”). In event-related potentials (ERP) studies, this was revealed as an N400, a late positivity (LP), and/or a late negativity (LN). We investigated whether stimulus emotionality and task demands influence these ERP correlates and metaphor processing. In Experiment 1, participants read emotional/neutral metaphorical/literal sentences and performed a sensicality judgement task. Emotional metaphors, in comparison to emotional literal sentences, showed a widespread N400 effect (300–450 ms) and a left-anterior LN (450–850 ms). In Experiment 2, participants simply read the sentences and participation was verified by occasional post-trial comprehension questions. Emotional metaphors elicited a more positive LP (450–850 ms) than emotional literal sentences. Findings indicate that stimulus emotionality and task demand co-determine the extent to which emotion- and semantic- related neural resources are recruited during metaphor comprehension.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number105530
JournalBrain and Language
Volume261
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2025

Keywords

  • Emotion
  • Late Negativity
  • Late Positivity
  • Metaphor
  • N400
  • Task

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Language and Linguistics
  • Linguistics and Language
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Speech and Hearing

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