ERP Study Of Chinese Metaphor Embodied Neural Mechanisms Of Cognitive Processing

Metaphor is not only a linguistic phenomenon, but also a cognitive function. Moreover, contemporary cognitive science takes it as an important way for human to understand things and the world. As the mainstream of cognition science accepted and attached the importance on the embodied cognition thought, more people know its core feature. Embodied cognition rejected the inherent weaknesses of the traditional cognitive science which thought the body and mind are separated, and also emphasize that the body, actions and situations are integral in the whole cognitive process. Meanwhile, because of the embodied cognition trend, metaphor as the essential way for human thinking has been getting more attention. In this paper, we use metaphor and metaphorical thinking as the starting point, combining with the theory and experiment research of embodied mind and embodied cognition to introduce and prove the embodied essential of metaphorical cognition. Besides, we explored and verified it by using ERP research methods.In this paper, we use ERP as the research method, which use to study online metaphorical cognitive process. We compared the attributes of Chinese metaphor materials (e.g. familiarity, normalization, and acceptability) with relevant embodied behavioral experiments (involving the sensation and perception, postures, emotions) Basing on this, we design three experiments to verify the embodiment effect and its influences on the Chinese metaphors cognitive process. To some extent, we also explore the neural mechanisms of the Chinese metaphors cognitive processing.In the first experiment, we adopted the tail design paradigm, and including four types of materials:original meaning sentences, the positive correlation sentences, the negative correlation sentences and the wrong sentences. The cold water, warm water and hot water were the independent variables in this experiment. Subjects accepted the stimulation before the experiments and during the experiment. We used ERP to record the subjects’EEGs reaction to the materials during the process, and used E-prime to record the reaction time and accuracy. After the experiment, all the subjects were asked to finish a recall test. After comprehensive analysis of the behavior and EEGs data, we conclude that after experiencing different temperature stimuli, the subjects indeed exhibit different behavioral responses and EEGs in the understanding of different types of materials. This difference of the behavioral response on the performance is that the hot water group have higher correct rate when they come to the materials means friendship、kindness and enthusiasm, while the cold water group have higher correct rate when they come to the materials means cold and indifference. The topographic maps and wave chart of the EEGs give the similar result at the same time that the "hot group" and "cold group" do have different cognitive processes of the brain in the course of processing the materials. Related stimulation to the behavior and selection of subjects does bring certain influence, and directly reflected in the outside of the reaction. But at the same time, after repeated measuring analysis of variance of the subjects’behavioral data and accuracy and repeated measuring analysis of variance electrode point average volatility, the difference was not significant in different groups of subjects, and subjects’gender differences didn’t affect the behavior of the subjects reaction results. In EEGs data statistical analysis, brain topographic map and oscillogram analysis shows that there are differences, SPSS statistics show significant difference between the P600of the group. For this result, we consider that the experiment results alidate the assumption in a certain degree, but only reflected in the behavioral data and cursory ERP statistical result, there was no significant difference in the subsequent statistical analysis. Temperature is thought to produce a certain impact on the processing of metaphor cognitive, but not enough to reach a significant level of difference.In the second experiment, we still adopted the tail design paradigm, which including four types of materials:original meaning sentences, the positive correlation sentences, the negative correlation sentences and the wrong sentences, and also used the different postures as the embodied stimulation to different subject groups. We used ERP to record the subjects’EEGs reaction to the materials during the process, and used E-prime to record the reaction time and accuracy. After the experiment, all the subjects were asked to finish a recall test. Comparing with the first experiment, the second one deleted more bad subjects’dates. During the experiment, the subjects were asked to maintain bend over or upright postures and this will naturally makes them tired and promotes more failure because of extraneous interference potentials. After comprehensive analysis of the behavior and EEGs data, we conclude that after experiencing different body gestures stimuli, the subjects indeed exhibit different behavioral responses and EEGs in the understanding of different types of materials. The difference of the behavioral response on the performance is that the straight group have higher correct rate when they come to the materials means self-confidence， success and proudness, while the stoop group have higher correct rate when they come to the materials means failure, weakness, depression, and backward. The topographic maps and wave chart of the EEGs give the similar result at the same time that the "stoop group" and "straight group" do have different cognitive processes of the brain in the course of processing the materials. At the same time, after repeated measuring analysis of variance of the subjects’ behavioral data and accuracy and repeated measuring analysis of variance electrode point average volatility, the difference was not significant in different groups of subjects. By selecting the eight points of the four waveform components, FCZ, F3, F4, P3, P4, FP1, FP2, and CZ are picked from N200, N400, P300and P600waves, and appear significant difference marginally significant difference. The results support the assumption of the experiment, and metaphor cognitive processing by posture stimulation do have impact to metaphor understanding.In the last experiment, we still adopted the tail design paradigm, and including four types of materials:original meaning sentences, the positive correlation sentences, the negative correlation sentences and the wrong sentences. The negative mood and the positive mood were the independent variables in this experiment. Subjects accepted the stimulation before the experiments and during the experiment. We used ERP to record the subjects’ EEGs reaction to the materials during the process, and used E-prime to record the reaction time and accuracy. After the experiment, all the subjects were asked to finish a recall test. After comprehensive analysis of the behavior and EEGs data, we conclude that after experiencing different mood stimuli, the subjects indeed exhibit different behavioral responses and EEGs in the understanding of different types of materials. This difference of the behavioral response on the performance is that the positive mood group have higher correct rate when they come to the materials means acceptation and pleasing, while the negative mood group have lower correct rate when they come to the materials means hate or disfavor. The topographic maps and wave chart of the EEGs give the similar result at the same time that the "positive mood group" and "negative mood group" do have different cognitive processes of the brain in the course of processing the materials. But at the same time, after repeated measuring analysis of variance of the subjects’ behavioral data and accuracy and repeated measuring analysis of variance electrode point average volatility, the difference was not significant in different groups of subjects. On N200, N400, P300, component composition average waveform output, there are differences in the group of N400composition. For this result, we consider that the experiment results alidate the assumption in a certain degree, but only reflected in the behavioral data and cursory ERP statistical result, there was no significant difference in the subsequent statistical analysis. The results support the assumption of the experiment, and metaphor cognitive processing by mood stimulation do have impact to metaphor understanding.Synthesizing all three experiments, firstly we suggests that the embodied effects promote or retard the effects of Chinese metaphor cognitive processing, which is more reflects the outstanding performance of the overt behavior and the comparison of EEGs data; Secondly, the N400and P300components are the sensitive indicators of metaphorical material, which indicates the sentence processing difficulty by volatility activation region; Finally, the left and right brain regions have different positions and effects in Chinese metaphor cognitive processes, and the right brain is responsible for the metaphorical integration.