White matter tracts critical for recognition of sarcasm

Abstract

Failure to recognize sarcasm can lead to important miscommunications. Few previous studies have identified brain lesions associated with impaired recognition of sarcasm. We tested the hypothesis that percent damage to specific white matter tracts, age, and education together predict accuracy in sarcasm recognition. Using multivariable linear regression, with age, education, and percent damage to each of eight white matter tracts as independent variables, and percent accuracy on sarcasm recognition as the dependent variable, we developed a model for predicting sarcasm recognition. Percent damage to the sagittal stratum had the greatest weight and was the only independent predictor of sarcasm recognition.

Keywords:

• sarcasm
• stroke
• cognitive empathy
• sagittal stratum
• attitudinal prosody

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to Elliott Ross, MD, for sharing his stimuli and for consultation on this research project.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke [RO1NS47691] (to AEH) and The Yousem Family Research Fund and NICHD [R01 HD065955] (to KO).