View Full Version : Scientists Discover Sarcasm Centre in the Brain


Phanerothyme
23-05-2005, 11:29
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4566319.stm

Scientists say they have located the parts of the brain that comprehend sarcasm - honestly.

By comparing healthy people and those with damage to different parts of the brain, they found the front of the brain was a key to understanding irony.

nick2
23-05-2005, 11:49
It would be interesting to see how it compares between countries.

StarSparkle
23-05-2005, 11:50
Just checking that it's not April 1 come round again..... :suspect:

StarSparkle

timo
23-05-2005, 11:54
It would be interesting to see how it compares between counties, never mind countries!

Andy78
23-05-2005, 12:04
Originally posted by timo
It would be interesting to see how it compares between counties, never mind countries!

Agreed! I wonder if there is a north/south divide too.

timo
24-05-2005, 06:54
As a born and bred Sheffielder, exiled in Lancashire, and having lived in the south and midlands too, my experience is that 'my own people' take some beating here. Sheffielder's have a particularly effective version of sarcasm, often referred to as 'slow timing'. This is where one pretends to engage in interested conversation with a person one secretly regards as a bore. Some Sheffield tradesmen are quite adept at it, as are some bus drivers, shop assistants etc.

The finest example that springs to mind occurred in WH Smiths, one day in the mid 80s. I witnessed an outraged, pompous type storm up to an assistant, demanding to know why so many people were allowed to stand around the magazine racks reading [they were in his way, of course]. The sardonic -looking, middle-aged, female assistant looked deeply into his eyes and said mock-sweetly, 'Ooh, I know, it's shocking isn't it luv. Shall I go over and give them all a little kick?' Well, it amused me, anyway...

viking
24-05-2005, 07:29
Originally posted by nick2
It would be interesting to see how it compares between countries.


Originally posted by timo
It would be interesting to see how it compares between counties, never mind countries! [B]

It would be interesting to see how it compares between Forumers never mind counties!

timo
24-05-2005, 07:42
Are you endeavouring to tell me something, Viking? Is it trouble with your helmet again?

viking
24-05-2005, 07:46
Originally posted by timo
Are you endeavouring to tell me something, Viking? Is it trouble with your helmet again?

Helmets fine Timo, nice colour PURPLE


*<<<<<<< lowers tone * :heyhey:

timo
24-05-2005, 07:51
Haven't you lot got a cathedral to sack or something? I don't know, you can pay the Dane Geld, but you can never get rid ot the Dane.

espadrille
19-08-2008, 20:15
I always thought it was the lowest form of wit!

metaphoria
19-08-2008, 20:20
You'll never find it in 'bitterness' department.

*_ash_*
20-08-2008, 01:25
I always thought it was the lowest form of wit!

Only when you're in the wrong [or misunderstood] company :)