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Magnetoencephalographic evidence of early right hemisphere overactivation during metaphor comprehension in schizophrenia
Author(s) -
ZeevWolf Maor,
Faust Miriam,
Levkovitz Yechiel,
Harpaz Yuval,
Goldstein Abraham
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/psyp.12408
Subject(s) - neurotypical , psychology , lateralization of brain function , magnetoencephalography , right hemisphere , comprehension , cognitive psychology , semantics (computer science) , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , metaphor , neuroscience , electroencephalography , developmental psychology , linguistics , autism spectrum disorder , autism , philosophy , psychiatry , computer science , programming language
Whereas language processing in neurotypical brains is left lateralized, individuals with schizophrenia (SZ) display a bilateral or reversed pattern of lateralization. We used MEG to investigate the implications of this atypicality on fine (left hemisphere) versus coarse (right hemisphere) semantic processing. Ten SZ and 14 controls were presented with fine (conventional metaphor, literal, and unrelated expressions) and coarse (novel metaphor) linguistic stimuli. Results showed greater activation of the right hemisphere for novel metaphors and greater bilateral activation for unrelated expressions at the M170 window in SZ. Moreover, at the M350, SZ showed reduced bilateral activation. We conclude that SZ are overreliant on early‐stage coarse semantic processing. As a result, they jump too quickly to remote conclusions, with limited control over the meanings they form. This may explain one of the core symptoms of the disorder—loose associations.