Understanding Novel Metaphors: A Milestone in the Developmental Trajectory of Children with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum?

Abstract

This study explores novel metaphor comprehension in a 7.2-year-old child (conventionally called RJ) with complete and isolated agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC). RJ's cognitive level was adequate for his age as well as most of his linguistic competencies. The child's performance was compared to typically developing (TD) controls on a test assessing novel metaphor comprehension for preschoolers. RJ's performance showed a delay of about three years in relation to the expected level for his age, and also a significant gap compared to the TDs. The results highlighted the possibility to detect weaknesses in understanding novel metaphors in children with ACC, in spite of their apparently adequate linguistic capabilities. An early detection of a weakness in this area can pave the way to neurolinguistic treatment in order to enhance the understanding of nonliteral meaning, which, in the developmental trajectory, will be increasingly involved in everyday life communication. Future research should explore more in-depth a capability that intrinsically requires high interconnectivity, such as novel metaphor comprehension, in a brain in development where the major tract connecting the two hemispheres is missing.

Keywords: agenesis of the corpus callosum; children; novel metaphor comprehension.

Figure 1

RJ’s magnetic resonance imaging. (A) Sagittal T1 WI. The corpus callosum is absent. There is a small residual portion (arrow) in the genu/anterior body. (B) Coronal turbo T2 WI. The cingulate gyri are everted as a result of the absence of the callosal fibers (arrows). There is a small residual portion of the genu/anterior body (thin arrows). (C) Axial turbo T2 WI. The walls of the lateral ventricles are dysmorphic because the Probst bundles do not cross the midline.