Baggage Check: Get It?

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Dr. Andrea Bonior dives into the world of psychology.

THE RECENT BROUHAHA over a New Yorker cover cartoon depicting some unfounded fears about Barack Obama — or, to hear some people tell it, further inflaming those fears — has engendered a spirited debate in the op-ed pages, talk radio and the blogosphere.

Though I'd need a hazmat suit to touch the argument itself, the psychology of the issue has a fascinating angle: the context and reception of satire. Central to the rants and raves of the cartoon is the question of just who will "get it," and what that getting or not getting will mean for the candidate, the campaign, the sale of magazines, the price of arugula, etc.

So what differentiates the getters and the non-getters? Clearly, in this instance, political sensitivities have some effect. But for general cases of satire, new brain research has revealed a neurological basis for the detection of sarcasm and irony. They are associated with a concept called metacognition, which is, in short, your awareness of mental processes. In this case, it's the ability to understand that someone is thinking something different than the literal, surface meeting that their words or drawings convey. (And it's a prerequisite to picking up on the fact that your cousin doesn't really think you are rocking that fedora.)

The most fascinating part of this research — (note to those not interested in neuroanatomy: no sarcasm intended) — is that the part of the brain implicated in detecting sarcasm was not one that was ever known to be involved with social clues. Instead, it was one that was thought to deal with visual context only. (It's the right parahippocampal gyrus, for those so inclined.)

Traditionally, the left hemisphere was more frequently implicated in the social aspects of language. It's an important finding that with further research may eventually help those suffering from aspects of dementia, which can often rob someone of their ability to detect those non-surface meanings.

As for the New Yorker flap, I'm sure everyone will soon calm down and discuss the issue reasonably, thoughtfully and open-mindedly. (How's your parahippocampal gyrus?)

Talk back to Dr. Andrea by leaving a comment below. To ask a question for Baggage Check in the Express print edition, e-mail baggage@readexpress.com or submit an anonymous question here.