The temporal features of vertical spatial metaphor processing after moral disgust priming

Abstract

Objective To explore the time characteristics and neural mechanism of processing vertical spatial metaphor after the activation of moral disgust, by applying event-related potential technique (ERPs) and semantic priming paradigm. Methods Totally 22 healthy college or graduate students were randomly selected from a university in Henan Province. A dual word priming paradigm was used to present priming words (moral disgust words and non moral disgust words). Then the target words (neutral words above or on the bottom of the screen) were presented, and the subjects were asked to judge the font structure of the target words. Processing feature was explored by investigating the differences in EEG indexes of different combinations. Results The interaction between the starting stimulation of the correct rate and the target stimulation in the behavior data was significant (F=20.40, P<0.01). In EEG data, compared with immoral aversion stimuli(P2: (0.81±0.45)μV, N400: (-4.43±0.58)μV), after the onset of moral abuses(P2: (-1.31±0.40)μV, N400: (-5.04±0.60)μV), the larger P2 (F=3.96, P<0.05) and larger N400 (F=10.73, P<0.01) amplitudes were induced in the related brain regions after the emergence of neutral words at the bottom of the screen. Conclusion The analysis of behavior and EEG data indicates that, compared with immoral disgust, moral abuses show a higher semantic connection with metaphorical moral, and metaphorical immoral shows lower semantic connection. The individual is more inclined to metaphorical morality to relieve and release the feeling of disgust and maintain a good self-moral image. Key words: Disgust; Vertical spatial metaphor; Spatial representation; ERPs