Israeli researchers have discovered the region of the brain responsible for understanding sarcasm. If that region of the brain is not functioning properly, the researchers found that subjects could only understand the literal meaning of another person's words. The results of the study were published in the May issue of the journal 'Neuropsychology.'

The study's co-author, Simone Shamay-Tsoory of the University of Haifa, told 'Forbes,' 'People with prefrontal brain damage suffer from difficulties in understanding other people's mental states, and they lack empathy. Therefore, they can't understand what the speaker really is talking about, and get only the literal meaning.'

The study examined 58 subjects, 25 with prefrontal-lobe damage, 17 people with healthy brains and 16 with damage to the posterior lobe of the brain. The subjects then listened to comments made by actors in both a literal and sarcastic sense. Those subjects with damage to the prefrontal region of the brain were the only ones unable to grasp the meaning of the sarcastic statements made by the actors.

The prefrontal lobe is located just above the eye sockets and behind the forehead. Within the prefrontal lobe, one specific area known as the ventromedial area was more specifically tied to the ability to understand sarcasm.

The researchers hope that the results of the study can help brain-damaged patients better adjust to the world and to better understand those around them.