Abstract
Brain-imaging studies report that separate neural correlates are associated with processing of different types of humorous materials. However, such evidence lacks temporal information. In this study, we examined the temporal dynamics of humour comprehension between two types of jokes: semantic (SEMs) and pun (PUNs) jokes, using electroencephalographic (EEG) techniques. Thirty SEMs and 30 PUNs were presented to 16 healthy subjects, and their EEG data were concurrently recorded. PUNs consequently showed a larger N400 amplitude than did SEMs, without a specified scalp site, which implies that PUNs induce greater surprise and semantic violation. Meanwhile, SEMs induced a larger P600-like amplitude at the posterior site, which implies that, in order to understand SEMs, higher working memory loads are needed to form novel associations and successfully frame-shift. A possible explanation is the differing logical mechanisms used to understand SEMs and PUNs: the former builds on semantic relationships, the latter on phonological causality.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 131-144 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Journal of Cognitive Psychology |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2019 Feb 17 |
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Keywords
- Humour
- N400
- P600
- puns
- semantic jokes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Cite this
Event-related potential (ERP) evidence for the differential cognitive processing of semantic jokes and pun jokes. / Chang, Yi Tzu; Ku, Li Chuan; Wu, Ching Lin; Chen, Hsueh Chih.
In: Journal of Cognitive Psychology, Vol. 31, No. 2, 17.02.2019, p. 131-144.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Event-related potential (ERP) evidence for the differential cognitive processing of semantic jokes and pun jokes
AU - Chang, Yi Tzu
AU - Ku, Li Chuan
AU - Wu, Ching Lin
AU - Chen, Hsueh Chih
PY - 2019/2/17
Y1 - 2019/2/17
N2 - Brain-imaging studies report that separate neural correlates are associated with processing of different types of humorous materials. However, such evidence lacks temporal information. In this study, we examined the temporal dynamics of humour comprehension between two types of jokes: semantic (SEMs) and pun (PUNs) jokes, using electroencephalographic (EEG) techniques. Thirty SEMs and 30 PUNs were presented to 16 healthy subjects, and their EEG data were concurrently recorded. PUNs consequently showed a larger N400 amplitude than did SEMs, without a specified scalp site, which implies that PUNs induce greater surprise and semantic violation. Meanwhile, SEMs induced a larger P600-like amplitude at the posterior site, which implies that, in order to understand SEMs, higher working memory loads are needed to form novel associations and successfully frame-shift. A possible explanation is the differing logical mechanisms used to understand SEMs and PUNs: the former builds on semantic relationships, the latter on phonological causality.
AB - Brain-imaging studies report that separate neural correlates are associated with processing of different types of humorous materials. However, such evidence lacks temporal information. In this study, we examined the temporal dynamics of humour comprehension between two types of jokes: semantic (SEMs) and pun (PUNs) jokes, using electroencephalographic (EEG) techniques. Thirty SEMs and 30 PUNs were presented to 16 healthy subjects, and their EEG data were concurrently recorded. PUNs consequently showed a larger N400 amplitude than did SEMs, without a specified scalp site, which implies that PUNs induce greater surprise and semantic violation. Meanwhile, SEMs induced a larger P600-like amplitude at the posterior site, which implies that, in order to understand SEMs, higher working memory loads are needed to form novel associations and successfully frame-shift. A possible explanation is the differing logical mechanisms used to understand SEMs and PUNs: the former builds on semantic relationships, the latter on phonological causality.
KW - Humour
KW - N400
KW - P600
KW - puns
KW - semantic jokes
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U2 - 10.1080/20445911.2019.1583241
DO - 10.1080/20445911.2019.1583241
M3 - Article
VL - 31
SP - 131
EP - 144
JO - Journal of Cognitive Psychology
JF - Journal of Cognitive Psychology
SN - 2044-5911
IS - 2
ER -