Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Lateralization01:28

Lateralization

294
Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
294
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

702
Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
702
Cerebral Hemispheres01:05

Cerebral Hemispheres

266
The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...
266
Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

303
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
303
Visual Agnosia01:12

Visual Agnosia

173
Visual agnosia is a condition characterized by the inability to recognize visually presented objects despite having normal vision. For instance, a person with visual agnosia can describe the shape and color of an object but cannot identify or name it. This impairment does not affect their visual field, acuity, color vision, brightness discrimination, language, or memory. An example of this condition in a social setting is someone at a dinner party asking for "that silver thing with a round...
173
Prosopagnosia01:24

Prosopagnosia

122
Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is the inability to recognize faces. In severe cases, individuals with prosopagnosia may not recognize close family members, including parents and spouses, by their faces. For instance, someone with prosopagnosia might walk past their child in a crowd, only realizing their mistake upon noticing their child's distinctive backpack or favorite jacket. Prosopagnosia specifically impairs facial recognition, while the recognition of other objects or...
122

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Accelerating digital innovation in clinical neuropsychology: simulation approach to support medical device certification.

Frontiers in digital health·2026
Same author

Qualitative assessment of the direct copy of the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure in Parkinson's disease patients with and without cognitive impairment.

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS·2026
Same author

A Systematic review and meta-analysis on prospective memory rehabilitation in adults with non-progressive acquired brain injury.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association·2025
Same author

Feasibility of combining tDCS with TMS-EEG to probe neuroplasticity in post-stroke aphasia.

Neuropsychological rehabilitation·2025
Same author

International consensus for the assessment of social cognition in neurocognitive disorders: framework definition and clinical recommendations of the SIGNATURE initiative.

Alzheimer's research & therapy·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2025

Using the Visual World Paradigm to Study Sentence Comprehension in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism
06:15

Using the Visual World Paradigm to Study Sentence Comprehension in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism

Published on: October 3, 2018

7.6K

Brain asymmetries in figurative language comprehension.

Costanza Papagno1

  • 1CIMeC, Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy.

Handbook of Clinical Neurology
|March 12, 2025
PubMed
Summary

This review explores the neural basis of figurative language, including idioms, metaphors, and irony. Evidence suggests both the left and right hemispheres are involved, challenging the idea of strict hemispheric specialization for literal versus figurative processing.

Keywords:
Figurative languageIdiomsIronyMetaphorPrefrontal cortexTemporal lobe

More Related Videos

Using Eye Movements to Evaluate the Cognitive Processes Involved in Text Comprehension
06:49

Using Eye Movements to Evaluate the Cognitive Processes Involved in Text Comprehension

Published on: January 10, 2014

27.1K
Conscious and Non-conscious Representations of Emotional Faces in Asperger's Syndrome
08:31

Conscious and Non-conscious Representations of Emotional Faces in Asperger's Syndrome

Published on: July 31, 2016

13.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 22, 2025

Using the Visual World Paradigm to Study Sentence Comprehension in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism
06:15

Using the Visual World Paradigm to Study Sentence Comprehension in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism

Published on: October 3, 2018

7.6K
Using Eye Movements to Evaluate the Cognitive Processes Involved in Text Comprehension
06:49

Using Eye Movements to Evaluate the Cognitive Processes Involved in Text Comprehension

Published on: January 10, 2014

27.1K
Conscious and Non-conscious Representations of Emotional Faces in Asperger's Syndrome
08:31

Conscious and Non-conscious Representations of Emotional Faces in Asperger's Syndrome

Published on: July 31, 2016

13.0K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Linguistics
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Figurative language, encompassing idioms, metaphors, and irony, presents unique comprehension challenges.
  • Early research suggested a primary role for the right hemisphere (RH) in processing non-literal language.
  • However, the precise neural underpinnings require nuanced investigation beyond broad hemispheric distinctions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the existing literature on the neural basis of figurative language comprehension.
  • To examine the distinct roles of the left hemisphere (LH) and RH in processing idioms, metaphors, and irony.
  • To evaluate the validity of a strict dichotomy between LH (literal) and RH (figurative) processing.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on the neural correlates of figurative language.
  • Analysis of research differentiating comprehension processes for various figurative expressions.
  • Synthesis of evidence regarding hemispheric involvement in processing idioms, metaphors, and irony.

Main Results:

  • The distinction between left hemisphere (LH) for literal and right hemisphere (RH) for figurative language is not fully supported by current evidence.
  • Both hemispheres contribute to figurative language processing, with varying degrees of involvement depending on the expression type.
  • Idioms, metaphors, and irony show differential reliance on LH and RH networks.

Conclusions:

  • Figurative language comprehension is a complex process involving bilateral brain activation.
  • A more integrated model of hemispheric function is necessary to explain the processing of diverse figurative expressions.
  • Future research should continue to explore the nuanced neural mechanisms underlying the comprehension of specific types of figurative language.