Neural correlates of metaphor comprehension: an ERP study.

In this research S1→S2 paradigm is used to test the consistency between the model of metaphor processing by Chinese and "graded salience hypothesis".The subjects are asked to make the "yes" or "no" judgment during matching tasks of metaphor pairs and unrelated pairs,while their brainwave ERPs are recorded.N400s at a number of electrodes are analyzed,which indicates that N400s at CP2,CP6,and P4 have significant difference.The results show that right hemisphere is involved in both the tasks and display a graded activation continuum which seems to be in consistency with Giora's theory.The involvement of parietal area during metaphor processing further proves Lakoff's spatial mapping theory of metaphor comprehension.The latency of the spatial involvement suggests that the generation of metaphor meaning is achieved in the spatial capacity only after similarity and familiarity of the objects are finalized.