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This research aims to explore how the brain processes literal and metaphorical olfactory language in Mandarin speakers.

February 8, 2026Brain and LanguageOpen Access

Neural mechanisms of embodied semantic processing in Chinese olfactory metaphors

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This research aims to explore how the brain processes literal and metaphorical olfactory language in Mandarin speakers.
Twenty-four native Mandarin speakers participated in fMRI scanning while reading sentences with olfactory meanings.
Whole-brain and ROI analyses were used to assess neural activation patterns during sentence processing.
Participants' olfactory threshold scores were measured to correlate with brain activity.
Literal olfactory sentences activated the left inferior frontal gyrus, while olfactory metaphors showed different neural activation patterns.
A correlation was found between olfactory threshold scores and activity in the right piriform cortex during literal processing.
A neural shift from concrete to abstract meanings was observed in olfactory context.

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Implication

Investigates olfactory language processing in Chinese, revealing neural dissociations between literal and metaphorical meanings, indicating flexible conceptual representation.

Cite This Study

Zhu et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6988270a0fc35cd7a8845f0c https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandl.2026.105721

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Implication

Investigates olfactory language processing in Chinese, revealing neural dissociations between literal and metaphorical meanings, indicating flexible conceptual representation.

Neural mechanisms of embodied semantic processing in Chinese olfactory metaphors

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Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Neural mechanisms of embodied semantic processing in Chinese olfactory metaphors

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

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