Looking at the brains behind figurative language—A quantitative meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies on metaphor, idiom, and irony processing

Neural correlates of Korean proverb processing: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study

“…The areas that were activated in response to these types of figurative sentences encompassed the classic semantic processing areas in the LH, including the left IFG and anterolateral temporal cortex (Oliveri et al., 2004; Rapp, Leube, Erb, Grodd, & Kircher, 2007). In line with our present findings, Bohrn, Altmann, and Jacobs (2012) reported that, although some RH activation was frequently observed in response to figurative language, the patterns of activation of the RH are less overlapping and more variable across studies than the activation of left frontotemporal regions. They additionally concluded that more studies will be needed to distinguish figurativity from other possible confounding factors, such as familiarity and syntactic complexity, and to break down further the various components of figurative language processing (Bohrn et al., 2012).…”

The role of the ventro-lateral prefrontal cortex in idiom comprehension: An rTMS study

“…This view is also supported by two recent review papers that investigated the common neural activation sites in several idiom studies (Bohrn, Altmann, & Jacobs, 2012;Rapp, Mutschler, & Erb, 2012). Both meta-analyses found that idiomatic vs literal phrases activate a left-lateralized network, with strongest activation in the left middle temporal gyrus (BA 21) and the left VLPFC (Bohrn, Altmann, & Jacobs, 2012;Rapp, Mutschler, & Erb, 2012). Thus, even though the meta-analyses and the Lauro et al (2008) study are not in complete agreement as to the hemispheric lateralization of idiomatic language, they both converge on the view that idioms activate the ventro-lateral PFC.…”

“…Thus, this study not only suggests that idioms and literal phrases may be processed in non-overlapping cortical areas, but also that idioms primarily activate the VLPFC, potentially because of the semantic conflict inherent in these expressions. This view is also supported by two recent review papers that investigated the common neural activation sites in several idiom studies (Bohrn, Altmann, & Jacobs, 2012;Rapp, Mutschler, & Erb, 2012). Both meta-analyses found that idiomatic vs literal phrases activate a left-lateralized network, with strongest activation in the left middle temporal gyrus (BA 21) and the left VLPFC (Bohrn, Altmann, & Jacobs, 2012;Rapp, Mutschler, & Erb, 2012).…”

Lexical Substitution and Paraphasia in Advanced Dementia of the Alzheimer Type

“…The meaning of an idiom is not predictable on the basis of summarizing its words semes; the cultural tradition generates an additional meaning. The ability to process and to reproduce idioms along with other samples of the figurative language is considered to be a crucial skill of the healthy brain (Bohrn, Altman, & Jacobs, 2012).…”

“…Specific problems in processing the figurative language (Bohrn, Altman, & Jacobs, 2012). AD patients failed to correspond the meaning of the idiomatic phrase with a relevant picture or a one-word description; they understood the phraseme literally / by semantic associations to words from the idiom without processing sentential meaning (Rassiga, Lucchelli, Crippa, & Papagno, 2009, p. 409).…”