Mechanisms of socio-linguistic human communication: Neural correlates of irony production.

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23700305
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Cognitive science
• Research Institution: The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (2013-2014); Tohoku University (2011-2012)
• Principal Investigator: AKIMOTO Yoritaka 独立行政法人理化学研究所, 脳科学総合研究センター, 研究員 (00555245)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: アイロニー / ポライトネス / 高次意図 / 発話産出 / fMRI / MEG

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Brain mechanisms of irony comprehension and politeness during communicative utterance production were examined using MEG and fMRI. Results showed that oscillatory power of alpha band (8-13Hz) was decreased in the medial prefrontal cortex and the right anterior temporal lobe during irony production, and the amygdala and the orbitofrontal cortex play a role in the consideration of politeness during communicative utterance production. These regions were known to be involved in context, theory of mind, and affective processing. Questionnaire studies and behavioral study also support the notion that irony production includes social and affective processing.

Free Research Field

認知科学