Individual Differences in Humor Processing: A Review of fMRI and ERP Evidence
Keywords:
psycholinguistics, humor processing, individual differences, ERPs, fMRI
Abstract
Humor plays a crucial role in social interaction and emotional regulation. As a complex psychological phenomenon, the processing mechanism of humor is significantly affected by individual differences. This paper systematically reviews individual differences in verbal humor processing, and integrates fMRI and ERP studies to explore the cognitive neural mechanisms of four key individual factors (gender, age, personality traits, mental state) in the processing of verbal humor. By reviewing the main findings of different studies and analyzing their consistency and controversy, it is found that gender differences are involved in different brain regions activation during humor processing, and age differences are related to the maturation of brain structure and function. Personality traits (such as extraversion and introversion) and mental state factors such as schizophrenia also show significant differences in humor experience and neural mechanisms. This review attempts to provide a more comprehensive perspective on the cognitive neuroscience of verbal humor, points out directions for future research, and emphasizes the importance of considering specific individual differences in future humor processing studies.
References
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[2] Canal, P., Bischetti, L., Di Paola, S., Bertini, C., Ricci, I., & Bambini, V. (2019). "Honey, shall I change the baby? - Well done, choose another one": ERP and time-frequency correlates of humor processing. Brain and Cognition, 132, 41–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2019.02.001
[3] Li, X., Sun, J., Wang, H., Xu, Q., Zhang, G., & Wang, X. (2022). Dynamic impact of intelligence on verbal-humor processing: Evidence from ERPs and EROs. Journal of Neurolinguistics, 62, 101057. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneuroling.2022.101057
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[5] Alden, D. L., Hoyer, W. D., & Lee, C. (1993). Identifying global and culture-specific dimensions of humor in advertising: A multinational analysis. Journal of Marketing, 57, 64–75. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224299305700205
[6] Martin, R. A., Puhlik-Doris, P., Larsen, G., Gray, J., & Weir, K. (2003). Individual differences in uses of humor and their relation to psychological well-being: Development of the humor styles questionnaire. Journal of Research in Personality, 37, 48–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-6566(02)00534-2
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[8] Chan, Y. C. (2023). To laugh or not to laugh: That is the question of humor techniques and sex differences. Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange, 16(2), 192–204. https://doi.org/10.18785/jetde.1602.13
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[10] Kohn, N., Kellermann, T., Gur, R. C., Schneider, F., & Habel, U. (2011). Gender differences in the neural correlates of humor processing: Implications for different processing modes. Neuropsychologia, 49(5), 888–897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2011.02.010
[11] Azim, E., Mobbs, D., Jo, B., Menon, V., & Reiss, A. L. (2005). Sex differences in brain activation elicited by humor. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 102(45), 16496–16501. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0408456102
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[17] Neely, M. N., Walter, E., Black, J. M., & Reiss, A. L. (2012). Neural correlates of humor detection and appreciation in children. Journal of Neuroscience, 32(5), 1784–1790. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4172-11.2012
[18] Shammi, P., & Stuss, D. T. (2003). The effects of normal aging on humor appreciation. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 6(6), 855–863. https://doi.org/10.1017/S135561770396005X
[19] Uekermann, J., Channon, S., & Daum, I. (2006). Humor processing, mentalizing, and executive function in normal aging. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 12(2), 184–191. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617706060280
[20] Mak, W., & Carpenter, B. D. (2007). Humor comprehension in older adults. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 13(4), 606–614. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617707070750
[21] Chan, Y. C., Chou, T. L., Chen, H. C., Yeh, Y. C., Lavallee, J. P., Liang, K. C., & Chang, K. E. (2013). Towards a neural circuit model of verbal humor processing: An fMRI study of the neural substrates of incongruity detection and resolution. NeuroImage, 66, 169–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.10.019
[22] Bekinschtein, T. A., Davis, M. H., Rodd, J. M., & Owen, A. M. (2011). Why clowns taste funny: The relationship between humor and semantic ambiguity. Journal of Neuroscience, 31(26), 9665–9671. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5058-10.2011
[23] Samson, A. C., Zysset, S., & Huber, O. (2008). Cognitive humor processing: Different logical mechanisms in nonverbal cartoons—An fMRI study. Social Neuroscience, 3(2), 125–140. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470910701745858
[24] Chou, T. L., Booth, J. R., Burman, D. D., Bitan, T., Bigio, J. D., Lu, D., & Cone, N. E. (2006). Developmental changes in the neural correlates of semantic processing. NeuroImage, 29(4), 1141–1149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2005.10.036
[25] Giedd, J. N., Blumenthal, J., Jeffries, N. O., Castellanos, F. X., Liu, H., Zijdenbos, A., et al. (1999). Brain development during childhood and adolescence: A longitudinal MRI study. Nature Neuroscience, 2(10), 861–863. https://doi.org/10.1038/13158
[26] Israel, L., Konieczny, L., & Ferstl, E. C. (2022). Cognitive and affective aspects of verbal humor: A visual-world eye-tracking study. Frontiers in Communication, 6, 758173. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.758173
[27] Berger, P., Bitsch, F., Nagels, A., et al. (2018). Personality modulates amygdala and insula connectivity during humor appreciation: An event-related fMRI study. Social Neuroscience, 13(6), 756–768. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470919.2017.1414716
[28] Idson, L. C., Liberman, N., & Higgins, E. T. (2000). Distinguishing gains from nonlosses and losses from nongains: A regulatory focus perspective on hedonic intensity. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 36(3), 252–274. https://doi.org/10.1006/jesp.1999.1413
[29] Yang, C. Z. F. (2016). The differences of humor processing between introvert and extrovert: An ERP study. Journal of Psychological Science, 39(3), 651–658.
[30] Ku, L. C., Chang, Y. T., & Chen, H. C. (2020). How do extraverts process jokes? An event-related potential study on humor processing. Brain and Cognition, 141, 105553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2020.105553
[31] Adamczyk, P., Wyczesany, M., Domagalik, A., Daren, A., Cepuch, K., Błaziński, P., Cechnicki, A., & Marek, T. (2017). Neural circuit of verbal humor comprehension in schizophrenia - An fMRI study. NeuroImage: Clinical, 15, 525–540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2017.06.021
[32] Harvey, P. D., Bosia, M., Cavallaro, R., Howes, O. D., Kahn, R. S., Leucht, S., et al. (2022). Cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia: An expert group paper on the current state of the art. Schizophrenia Research: Cognition, 29, 100249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scog.2022.100249
[33] Adamczyk, P., Wyczesany, M., Domagalik, A., Daren, A., Cepuch, K., Błaziński, P., Cechnicki, A., & Marek, T. (2018). Diminished activation of the right inferior parietal lobule as a neural substrate of impaired cartoon-jokes comprehension in schizophrenia outpatients. Schizophrenia Research, 197, 593–595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2017.12.016
[34] Jáni, M., Płonka, O., Daren, A., Błaziński, P., Kalisz, A., Wyczesany, M., & Adamczyk, P. (2021). The neural substrates of diminished humor comprehension in schizophrenia and its relationship with psychopathology. Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis, 81(2), 181–190. https://doi.org/10.21307/ane-2021-018
[35] Adamczyk, P., Wyczesany, M., & Daren, A. (2019). Dynamics of impaired humour processing in schizophrenia – An EEG effective connectivity study. Schizophrenia Research, 209, 113–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2019.03.013
[2] Canal, P., Bischetti, L., Di Paola, S., Bertini, C., Ricci, I., & Bambini, V. (2019). "Honey, shall I change the baby? - Well done, choose another one": ERP and time-frequency correlates of humor processing. Brain and Cognition, 132, 41–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2019.02.001
[3] Li, X., Sun, J., Wang, H., Xu, Q., Zhang, G., & Wang, X. (2022). Dynamic impact of intelligence on verbal-humor processing: Evidence from ERPs and EROs. Journal of Neurolinguistics, 62, 101057. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneuroling.2022.101057
[4] Haan, M. D., & Thomas, K. M. (2002). Applications of ERP and fMRI techniques to developmental science. Developmental Science, 5, 335–343. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-7687.00373
[5] Alden, D. L., Hoyer, W. D., & Lee, C. (1993). Identifying global and culture-specific dimensions of humor in advertising: A multinational analysis. Journal of Marketing, 57, 64–75. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224299305700205
[6] Martin, R. A., Puhlik-Doris, P., Larsen, G., Gray, J., & Weir, K. (2003). Individual differences in uses of humor and their relation to psychological well-being: Development of the humor styles questionnaire. Journal of Research in Personality, 37, 48–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-6566(02)00534-2
[7] Brooker, R. J., Bates, J. E., Buss, K. A., Canen, M. J., Dennis-Tiwary, T. A., Gatzke-Kopp, L. M., … Schmidt, L. A. (2020). Conducting event-related potential (ERP) research with young children: A review of components, special considerations and recommendations for research on cognition and emotion. Journal of Psychophysiology, 34(3), 137–158. https://doi.org/10.1027/0269-8803/a000243
[8] Chan, Y. C. (2023). To laugh or not to laugh: That is the question of humor techniques and sex differences. Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange, 16(2), 192–204. https://doi.org/10.18785/jetde.1602.13
[9] Prenger, M., Gilchrist, M., Van Hedger, K., Seergobin, K. N., Owen, A. M., & MacDonald, P. A. (2023). Establishing the roles of the dorsal and ventral striatum in humor comprehension and appreciation with fMRI. Journal of Neuroscience, 43(49), 8536–8546. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1361-23.2023
[10] Kohn, N., Kellermann, T., Gur, R. C., Schneider, F., & Habel, U. (2011). Gender differences in the neural correlates of humor processing: Implications for different processing modes. Neuropsychologia, 49(5), 888–897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2011.02.010
[11] Azim, E., Mobbs, D., Jo, B., Menon, V., & Reiss, A. L. (2005). Sex differences in brain activation elicited by humor. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 102(45), 16496–16501. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0408456102
[12] Vrticka, P., Black, J. M., Neely, M., Shelly, E. W., & Reiss, A. L. (2013). Humor processing in children: Influence of temperament, age and IQ. Neuropsychologia, 51(13), 2799–2811. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2013.09.028
[13] Chan, Y. C., & Lavallee, J. P. (2015). Temporo-parietal and fronto-parietal lobe contributions to theory of mind and executive control: An fMRI study of verbal jokes. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1285. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01285
[14] Chan, Y. C. (2016). Neural correlates of sex/gender differences in humor processing for different joke types. Frontiers in Psychology, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00536
[15] Chang, Y. T., Ku, L. C., & Chen, H. C. (2018). Sex differences in humor processing: An event-related potential study. Brain and Cognition, 120, 34–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2017.11.002
[16] College, C. (2014). Interhemispheric and gender difference in ERP synchronicity of processing humor.
[17] Neely, M. N., Walter, E., Black, J. M., & Reiss, A. L. (2012). Neural correlates of humor detection and appreciation in children. Journal of Neuroscience, 32(5), 1784–1790. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4172-11.2012
[18] Shammi, P., & Stuss, D. T. (2003). The effects of normal aging on humor appreciation. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 6(6), 855–863. https://doi.org/10.1017/S135561770396005X
[19] Uekermann, J., Channon, S., & Daum, I. (2006). Humor processing, mentalizing, and executive function in normal aging. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 12(2), 184–191. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617706060280
[20] Mak, W., & Carpenter, B. D. (2007). Humor comprehension in older adults. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 13(4), 606–614. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617707070750
[21] Chan, Y. C., Chou, T. L., Chen, H. C., Yeh, Y. C., Lavallee, J. P., Liang, K. C., & Chang, K. E. (2013). Towards a neural circuit model of verbal humor processing: An fMRI study of the neural substrates of incongruity detection and resolution. NeuroImage, 66, 169–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.10.019
[22] Bekinschtein, T. A., Davis, M. H., Rodd, J. M., & Owen, A. M. (2011). Why clowns taste funny: The relationship between humor and semantic ambiguity. Journal of Neuroscience, 31(26), 9665–9671. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5058-10.2011
[23] Samson, A. C., Zysset, S., & Huber, O. (2008). Cognitive humor processing: Different logical mechanisms in nonverbal cartoons—An fMRI study. Social Neuroscience, 3(2), 125–140. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470910701745858
[24] Chou, T. L., Booth, J. R., Burman, D. D., Bitan, T., Bigio, J. D., Lu, D., & Cone, N. E. (2006). Developmental changes in the neural correlates of semantic processing. NeuroImage, 29(4), 1141–1149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2005.10.036
[25] Giedd, J. N., Blumenthal, J., Jeffries, N. O., Castellanos, F. X., Liu, H., Zijdenbos, A., et al. (1999). Brain development during childhood and adolescence: A longitudinal MRI study. Nature Neuroscience, 2(10), 861–863. https://doi.org/10.1038/13158
[26] Israel, L., Konieczny, L., & Ferstl, E. C. (2022). Cognitive and affective aspects of verbal humor: A visual-world eye-tracking study. Frontiers in Communication, 6, 758173. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.758173
[27] Berger, P., Bitsch, F., Nagels, A., et al. (2018). Personality modulates amygdala and insula connectivity during humor appreciation: An event-related fMRI study. Social Neuroscience, 13(6), 756–768. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470919.2017.1414716
[28] Idson, L. C., Liberman, N., & Higgins, E. T. (2000). Distinguishing gains from nonlosses and losses from nongains: A regulatory focus perspective on hedonic intensity. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 36(3), 252–274. https://doi.org/10.1006/jesp.1999.1413
[29] Yang, C. Z. F. (2016). The differences of humor processing between introvert and extrovert: An ERP study. Journal of Psychological Science, 39(3), 651–658.
[30] Ku, L. C., Chang, Y. T., & Chen, H. C. (2020). How do extraverts process jokes? An event-related potential study on humor processing. Brain and Cognition, 141, 105553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2020.105553
[31] Adamczyk, P., Wyczesany, M., Domagalik, A., Daren, A., Cepuch, K., Błaziński, P., Cechnicki, A., & Marek, T. (2017). Neural circuit of verbal humor comprehension in schizophrenia - An fMRI study. NeuroImage: Clinical, 15, 525–540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2017.06.021
[32] Harvey, P. D., Bosia, M., Cavallaro, R., Howes, O. D., Kahn, R. S., Leucht, S., et al. (2022). Cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia: An expert group paper on the current state of the art. Schizophrenia Research: Cognition, 29, 100249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scog.2022.100249
[33] Adamczyk, P., Wyczesany, M., Domagalik, A., Daren, A., Cepuch, K., Błaziński, P., Cechnicki, A., & Marek, T. (2018). Diminished activation of the right inferior parietal lobule as a neural substrate of impaired cartoon-jokes comprehension in schizophrenia outpatients. Schizophrenia Research, 197, 593–595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2017.12.016
[34] Jáni, M., Płonka, O., Daren, A., Błaziński, P., Kalisz, A., Wyczesany, M., & Adamczyk, P. (2021). The neural substrates of diminished humor comprehension in schizophrenia and its relationship with psychopathology. Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis, 81(2), 181–190. https://doi.org/10.21307/ane-2021-018
[35] Adamczyk, P., Wyczesany, M., & Daren, A. (2019). Dynamics of impaired humour processing in schizophrenia – An EEG effective connectivity study. Schizophrenia Research, 209, 113–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2019.03.013
Published
2025-03-08
How to Cite
Yan, B. (2025, March 8). Individual Differences in Humor Processing: A Review of fMRI and ERP Evidence. International Linguistics Research, 8(1), p47. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.30560/ilr.v8n1p47
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