Metaphor processing in high and low schizotypal individuals.

Two hypotheses were considered regarding the relationship between positive schizotypy and metaphor processing. On the basis of continuity between schizophrenia and schizotypy, high schizotypal individuals would be expected to be impaired at metaphor processing. However, given the right hemisphere processing bias that has been associated with positive schizotypy, they would be expected to be superior at metaphor processing.

Semantic ambiguity resolution in positive schizotypy: a right hemisphere interpretation.

Positive schizotypal traits have been associated with right hemisphere activation. Previous research has indicated that the left and right hemispheres differ in their processing of semantic ambiguity; specifically, given sufficient time, the left hemisphere primes dominant meanings and inhibits subordinate meanings, and the right hemisphere primes both dominant and subordinate meanings. The authors examined whether individuals who differed in positive schizotypy demonstrated different patterns of priming on a semantic ambiguity task, reflective of differences in hemispheric activation.