tDCS application over the STG improves the ability to recognize and appreciate elements involved in humor processing

Abstract

The superior temporal gyrus (STG) has been found to play a crucial role in the recognition of actions and facial expressions and may, therefore, be critical for the processing of humorous information. Here we investigated whether tDCS application to the STG would modulate the ability to recognize and appreciate the comic element in serious and comedic situations of misfortune. To this aim, the effects of different types of tDCS stimulation on the STG were analyzed during a task in which the participants were instructed to categorize various misfortunate situations as "comic" or "not comic". Participants underwent three different tDCS conditions: Anodal-right/Cathodal-left; Cathodal-right/Anodal-left; Sham. Images depicting people involved in accidents were grouped into three categories based on the facial expression of the victim: angry or painful (Affective); bewildered and funny (Comic); and images that did not contain the victim's face (No Face). An improvement in mean reaction times in response to both the Comic and No Face stimuli was observed following Anodal-left/Cathodal-right stimulation when compared to sham stimulation. This suggests that this stimulation type reduced the reaction times to socio-emotional complex scenes, regardless of facial expression. The Anodal-right/Cathodal-left stimulation reduced the mean reaction times for Comic stimuli only, suggesting that specifically the right STG may be involved in facial expression recognition and in the appreciation of the comic element in misfortunate situations. These results suggest a functional hemispheric asymmetry in STG response to social stimuli: the left STG might have a role in a general comprehension of social complex situations, while the right STG may be involved in the ability to recognize and integrate specific emotional aspects in a complex scene.

TDCS to the right anterior temporal lobe facilitates insight problem-solving

“…We believe that this insight solution effect is due to the rATL's role in semantic integration, necessary to achieve global coherence during reasoning and discourse processing 25 . Following this idea, other studies indicate that right hemisphere semantic processing contributes to understanding novel metaphoric expressions, implicit comprehension, and humor [28][29][30][31]71 .…”

“…RATL activity is thought to underlie the semantic integration of distantly related associations that contribute to language comprehension 25 and to creative problem-solving 17,26 , a characteristic that makes this brain area a potential key region for facilitating insight if stimulated. Other studies support the idea that right temporal semantic processing appears to contribute to understanding metaphors 27 , is involved in the development of distant semantic relations, humor and other forms of implicit comprehension [28][29][30][31] .…”

[Retracted] Cultivation of Students’ Painting Appreciation Ability Based on Virtual Reality

“…Community cultural psychology is its sustainable development. The root of [15]. The virtual learning community provides people with a more free and harmonious multi-user learning environment.…”

Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation of MPFC enhances humor processing

“…In fact, previous evidences revealed that this type of non-ToM humorous stimuli (i.e. slapstick humor) involves the recruitment of other areas such as the superior temporal sulcus, the superior temporal gyrus, the middle occipital gyrus, and the precuneus (Manfredi et al, 2017;Samson et al, 2008;Watson et al, 2007) and involves cognitive mechanisms that are different from those involved in ToM humorous stimuli. For example, this type of humor is often labeled as aggressive or disparaging humor in the literature (Ferguson & Ford, 2008;Ford & Ferguson, 2004;Zillman, 1983).…”

“…The task was programmed using the E-prime 2.0 software package. The participants viewed the stimuli on a high-resolution VGA computer screen located at a distance of 50 cm from them (see Manfredi et al, 2017). Each strip was presented panel by panel at the center of the computer screen.…”