title: Mixing metaphors in the cerebral hemispheres: what happens when careers collide?
abstract: Are processes of figurative comparison and figurative categorization different? An experiment combining alternative-sense and matched-sense metaphor priming with a divided visual field assessment technique sought to isolate processes of comparison and categorization in the 2 cerebral hemispheres. For target metaphors presented in the right visual field/left cerebral hemisphere (RVF/LH), only matched-sense primes were facilitative. Literal primes and alternative-sense primes had no effect on comprehension time compared to the unprimed baseline. The effects of matched-sense primes were additive with the rated conventionality of the targets. For target metaphors presented to the left visual field/right cerebral hemisphere (LVF/RH), matched-sense primes were again additively facilitative. However, alternative-sense primes, though facilitative overall, seemed to eliminate the preexisting advantages of conventional target metaphor senses in the LVF/RH in favor of metaphoric senses similar to those of the primes. These findings are consistent with tightly controlled categorical coding in the LH and coarse, flexible, context-dependent coding in the RH.
authors: Department of Psychology, Swarthmore College, 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081, USA.
authors: Selmaan
authors: S
authors: Chettih
authors: Frank H
authors: FH
authors: Durgin
authors: Daniel J
authors: DJ
authors: Grodner
mesh_terms: D054022:Cerebrum / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D007600:Judgment / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D019365:Metaphor; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology*