ERP and behavioral evidence of individual differences in metaphor comprehension

Abstract

In two experiments, we examined individual differences in metaphor processing. In Experiment 1, the subjects judged the literal truth of literal, metaphorical, and scrambled sentences. Overall, metaphors were more difficult to judge as false, in comparison with scrambled controls, suggesting that the metaphorical meaning was being processed automatically. However, there were individual differences in that high-IQ subjects showed more interference. These effects were reflected in ERP amplitude differences at the onset of N400 and after the response. In Experiment 2, the subjects completed IQ tests and a series of working memory tests and then rated and interpreted the same set of metaphors. The results showed that IQ was correlatedwith working memory capacity and that low-IQ subjects had similar ratings but poorer quality interpretations than did high-IQ subjects. The results were most consistent with a constraint satisfaction approach to metaphor comprehension.

The role of working memory in the metaphor interference effect

“…See Table 1 for RT and accuracy for each sentence type. Although our participants committed more errors on literally true items than on literally false items, this pattern is consistent with other studies of the MIE (e.g., Kazmerski et al, 2003;Wolff & Gentner, 2000) and did not directly influence our statistical analyses.…”

“…We used a standard presentation style in which participants saw entire sentences. In contrast to Kazmerski et al (2003), we predicted that individuals with greater verbal knowledge would have a smaller MIE than those with less verbal knowledge. Specifically, individuals with greater verbal knowledge have richer and more accurate semantic networks, which include information on the literal and figurative uses of words.…”

“…An exception is a study by Kazmerski, Blasko, and Dessalegn (2003) using ERP technology. They measured IQ and the N400 component, which is particularly strong when linguistic stimuli are semantically anomalous.…”

“…Those with a higher IQ may be likelier to display the MIE because they are better able to integrate the meaning of sentences under these conditions. Kazmerski et al (2003) assessed IQ using the K-BIT. It is important to note that the K-BIT provides measures of verbal and nonverbal intelligence, in addition to a composite IQ, but does not measure WM directly.…”

Evaluación Multidimensional de la Superdotación: Criterios de validez de la Batería de Inteligencia y Creatividad para predecirlos talentos artísticos y académicos

“…Metaphors task is defined as "an instrument for evaluation of cognitive components of creativity" (Primi, Miguel, Couto, & Muniz, 2007, p.198). Recent studies shows a stronger role of intelligence in creative thinking than previously thought especially implicating executive functions, working memory and fluid intelligence in the production of creative metaphors (Benedeck et al, 2013;Chiappe & Chiappe, 2007;Kazmerski, Blasko, & Dessalegn, 2003;Primi, 2014;Silvia & Beaty, 2012). For example, Beaty and Silvia shows that crystallized knowledge could only predict individuals' ability to generate conventional metaphors (r = .30), but fluid intelligence predicts creative metaphor production (r = .45) and is not associated with conventional metaphors production.…”