Cerebral hemispheric asymmetries in processing lexical metaphors

David Anaki, Miriam Faust, Shlomo Kravetz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study investigated semantic priming for literal (stinging-mosquito) and metaphoric (stinging-insult) associates presented to either the left or right visual fields (RVF/LVF) across stimulus-onset-asynchronies (SOA) of 200 and 800 ms. For the short SOA condition, facilitation was found for metaphorically related targets in both visual fields (VFs) while literally related targets were facilitated only in the RVF. For the long SOA condition, metaphorically related targets were facilitated in the LVF whereas literally related targets were facilitated in the RVF. These results support previous findings indicating an enhanced role of the RH in metaphoric comprehension. In addition, the present results are in accordance with current models of hemispheric semantic processing.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)691-700
Number of pages10
JournalNeuropsychologia
Volume36
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jun 1998

Keywords

  • Laterality
  • Lexical decision
  • Metaphoric and literal meaning
  • Semantic priming
  • Word recognition

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