Irony detection engages the Precuneus and Inferior Frontal Gyrus and relies on integration of contextual cues and inferential skills

Abstract

One of the most difficult forms of communication is irony (Wilson & Sperber, 1981), therefore it has been proposed that it can be a useful indicator of communication abilities (Caillies et al., 2014). Irony is a statement that transmits the opposite meaning of its literal counterpart (Grice, 1975). The cognitive process of mentalization, executive functions and holistic processing style may participate in irony detection. The brain areas that have been associated with detection of irony are the medial prefrontal cortex, inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), the posterior superior temporal gyrus, precuneus, the inferior parietal lobule, among others. The aim of this study was to analyze the cognitive processes involved in irony identification and its neural correlates in a sample of Mexican adults. A total of 45 participants performed an irony identification task during MRI acquisition, while cognitive processes were assessed with a psychometric battery. From the statements evaluated (i.e. ironic, literal, unrelated and white lies), irony was the hardest intention to detect, having the lowest percentage of correct classification and the slowest classification time. The cognitive process that correlated with irony detection were the tasks that evaluated ToM, inhibitory control and verbal abilities. The identification of ironic statements recruited brain areas associated with ToM, language, and inhibitory control networks.