The Effect of Autism Spectrum Disorder on the Processing of Neural Response Metaphors

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this research is to describe the processing of neural response metaphors in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) speaking Turkish as their native language and to form the basis for further research in this field. Methods: In this study, a single case study method was used. The data was collected by means of a structured questionnaire. The answers were recorded with the “Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts” (SALT) program, and the data obtained was summarised using descriptive analysis. Results: It was found out that the participant had difficulty comprehending, interpreting and using mimics and gestures. He struggled matching emotions and situations with expressions denoting them as well as determining how a person experiencing these emotions and situations might look like. The participant turned out to have reduced ability to interpret idioms and proverbs related to emotions, decide on what actions can be performed at the given place, and form a situation-effect relationship. The participant experienced problems interpreting and using new, formulaic, and malformed metaphors as well metaphors with literal meaning, and could hardly identify and correctly interpret conceptual metaphors within idioms and proverbs. Conclusion: People with ASD experience difficulty with processing of neural response metaphors by the native speakers of Turkish. The disorders identified within the scope of our research result from the deficiencies of the theory of mind in individuals with ASD, which is supported by other studies on individuals with ASD having different mother tongues.