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Soni S, Overton J, Kam JWY, Pexman P, Prabhu A, Garza N, Saez I, Girgis F. Intracranial recordings reveal high-frequency activity in the human temporal-parietal cortex supporting non-literal language processing. Front Neurosci 2024; 17:1304031. [PMID: 38260011 PMCID: PMC10800947 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1304031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Non-literal expressions such as sarcasm, metaphor and simile refer to words and sentences that convey meanings or intentions that are different and more abstract than literal expressions. Neuroimaging studies have shown activations in a variety of frontal, parietal and temporal brain regions implicated in non-literal language processing. However, neurophysiological correlates of these brain areas underlying non-literal processing remain underexplored. Methods To address this, we investigated patterns of intracranial EEG activity during non-literal processing by leveraging a unique patient population. Seven neurosurgical patients with invasive electrophysiological monitoring of superficial brain activity were recruited. Intracranial neural responses were recorded over the temporal-parietal junction (TPJ) and its surrounding areas while patients performed a language task. Participants listened to vignettes that ended with non-literal or literal statements and were then asked related questions to which they responded verbally. Results We found differential neurophysiological activity during the processing of non-literal statements as compared to literal statements, especially in low-Gamma (30-70 Hz) and delta (1-4 Hz) bands. In addition, we found that neural responses related to non-literal processing in the high-gamma band (>70 Hz) were significantly more prominent at TPJ electrodes as compared to non-TPJ (i.e., control) electrodes in most subjects. Moreover, in half of patients, high-gamma activity related to non-literal processing was accompanied by delta-band modulation. Conclusion These results suggest that both low- and high-frequency electrophysiological activities in the temporal-parietal junction play a crucial role during non-literal language processing in the human brain. The current investigation, utilizing better spatial and temporal resolution of human intracranial electrocorticography, provides a unique opportunity to gain insights into the localized brain dynamics of the TPJ during the processing of non-literal language expressions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Soni
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jacqueline Overton
- Department of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Julia W. Y. Kam
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Penny Pexman
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Akshay Prabhu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Nicholas Garza
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Ignacio Saez
- Department of Neuroscience, Neurosurgery and Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Fady Girgis
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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Song D, Wen H, Dong Y. Affective Norms for Chinese Words of Typical Life Scenes Rated by Older Adults (ANCO). JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLINGUISTIC RESEARCH 2023; 52:1115-1140. [PMID: 37022625 DOI: 10.1007/s10936-023-09948-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The present study provides an affective norm collected from older adults for 1,050 Chinese words that are closely related to the typical life scenes commonly encountered by older adults. Data were collected for key affective dimensions of valence and arousal using the method of adapted Self-Assessment Manikin (Bradley & Lang, 1994) in a paper-and-pencil procedure. The results showed that the current database (ANCO) was of high reliability and validity. Valence and arousal were in an asymmetrically quadratic relationship in the valence-by-arousal space; i.e., older adults rated negative words as the highest arousing, followed by positive and neutral words. In addition, by comparing affective ratings of the shared words between the present norm collected from older Chinese adults and previous norms collected from young Chinese adults (Wang et al., 2008; Yao et al., 2017; Yu et al., 2016), we found that compared with young adults, older ones perceived negative words as more negative and more arousing, and perceived positive words as more positive and less arousing. ANCO can serve as a valuable source of information for age-related affective research and help explicate the effects of emotion on linguistic and cognitive processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dangui Song
- Language Processing and Development Lab, School of International Studies, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hao Wen
- Language Processing and Development Lab, School of International Studies, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanping Dong
- Language Processing and Development Lab, School of International Studies, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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Malkomsen A, Røssberg JI, Dammen T, Wilberg T, Løvgren A, Ulberg R, Evensen J. How therapists in cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic therapy reflect upon the use of metaphors in therapy: a qualitative study. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:433. [PMID: 35761306 PMCID: PMC9235099 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-04083-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research suggests that metaphors are integral to psychotherapeutic practice. We wanted to explore how 10 therapists reflect upon the use of metaphors in therapy, and how they react to some metaphors expressed by patients treated for of major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS Five therapists practicing psychodynamic therapy (PDT) and five practicing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) were interviewed with a semi-structured qualitative interview. Transcripts were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. RESULTS Our analysis resulted in two main themes: the therapeutic use of metaphors, and conflicting feelings towards metaphors used by depressed patients. Most therapists said that they do not actively listen for metaphors in therapy and many said that they seldom use metaphors deliberately. While PDT-therapists appeared more attentive to patient-generated metaphors, CBT-therapists seemed more focused on therapist-generated metaphors. Most therapists did not try to alter the patient-generated metaphors they evaluated as unhelpful or harmful. Some therapists expressed strong negative feelings towards some of the metaphors used by patients. PDT-therapists were the most critical towards the metaphor of tools and the metaphor of depression as an opponent. CBT-therapists were the most critical towards the metaphor of surface-and-depth. CONCLUSIONS These results remind us of the complexity of using metaphors in therapy, and can hopefully be an inspiration for therapists to reflect upon their own use of metaphors. Open therapeutic dialogue on the metaphor of tools, surface-depth and depression as an opponent may be necessary to avoid patient-therapist-conflicts. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trial gov. Identifier: NCT03022071 . Date of registration: 16/01/2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Malkomsen
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Nydalen, P.O. box 4959, N-0424, Oslo, Norway.
| | - JI Røssberg
- grid.55325.340000 0004 0389 8485Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Nydalen, P.O. box 4959, N-0424 Oslo, Norway ,grid.5510.10000 0004 1936 8921Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Blindern, P.O. box 1171, 0318 Oslo, Norway
| | - T Dammen
- grid.55325.340000 0004 0389 8485Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Nydalen, P.O. box 4959, N-0424 Oslo, Norway ,grid.5510.10000 0004 1936 8921Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Blindern, P.O. box 1171, 0318 Oslo, Norway
| | - T Wilberg
- grid.55325.340000 0004 0389 8485Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Nydalen, P.O. box 4959, N-0424 Oslo, Norway ,grid.5510.10000 0004 1936 8921Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Blindern, P.O. box 1171, 0318 Oslo, Norway
| | - A Løvgren
- grid.55325.340000 0004 0389 8485Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Nydalen, P.O. box 4959, N-0424 Oslo, Norway
| | - R Ulberg
- grid.5510.10000 0004 1936 8921Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Blindern, P.O. box 1171, 0318 Oslo, Norway ,grid.413684.c0000 0004 0512 8628Department of Psychiatry, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Vinderen, Box 85, 0319 Oslo, Norway
| | - J Evensen
- Nydalen Outpatient Clinic, Nydalen, P.O. box 4959, N-0424 Oslo, Norway
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Malkomsen A, Røssberg JI, Dammen T, Wilberg T, Løvgren A, Ulberg R, Evensen J. Digging down or scratching the surface: how patients use metaphors to describe their experiences of psychotherapy. BMC Psychiatry 2021; 21:533. [PMID: 34706691 PMCID: PMC8555134 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03551-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the present study, we wanted to explore which metaphors patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) use to explain their experience of being in therapy and their improvement from depression. METHODS Patients with MDD (N = 22) received either psychodynamic therapy (PDT) or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). They were interviewed with semi-structured qualitative interviews after ending therapy. The transcripts were analyzed using a method based on metaphor-led discourse analysis. RESULTS Metaphors were organized into three different categories concerning the process of therapy, the therapeutic relationship and of improvement from depression. Most frequent were the metaphorical concepts of surface and depth, being open and closed, chemistry, tools, improvement as a journey from darkness to light and depression as a disease or opponent. CONCLUSIONS Patient metaphors concerning the therapeutic experience may provide clinicians and researchers valuable information about the process of therapy. Metaphors offer an opportunity for patients to communicate nuances about their therapeutic experience that are difficult to express in literal language. However, if not sufficiently explored and understood, metaphors may be misinterpreted and become a barrier for therapeutic change. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trial gov. Identifier: NCT03022071 . Date of registration: 16/01/2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Malkomsen
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, P.O. box 4959, Nydalen, N-0424, Oslo, Norway.
| | - J I Røssberg
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, P.O. box 4959, Nydalen, N-0424, Oslo, Norway
- University of Oslo, Institute of Clinical Medicine, P.O. box 1171, Blindern, 0318, Oslo, Norway
| | - T Dammen
- Department of Behavioral Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - T Wilberg
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, P.O. box 4959, Nydalen, N-0424, Oslo, Norway
- University of Oslo, Institute of Clinical Medicine, P.O. box 1171, Blindern, 0318, Oslo, Norway
| | - A Løvgren
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, P.O. box 4959, Nydalen, N-0424, Oslo, Norway
| | - R Ulberg
- University of Oslo, Institute of Clinical Medicine, P.O. box 1171, Blindern, 0318, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychiatry, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Box 85 Vinderen, 0319, Oslo, Norway
| | - J Evensen
- Nydalen Outpatient Clinic, P.O. box 4959 Nydalen, N-0424, Oslo, Norway
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Gavilán JM, Haro J, Hinojosa JA, Fraga I, Ferré P. Psycholinguistic and affective norms for 1,252 Spanish idiomatic expressions. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254484. [PMID: 34270572 PMCID: PMC8284670 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This study provides psycholinguistic and affective norms for 1,252 Spanish idiomatic expressions. A total of 965 Spanish native speakers rated the idioms in 7 subjective variables: familiarity, knowledge of the expression, decomposability, literality, predictability, valence and arousal. Correlational analyses showed that familiarity has a strong positive correlation with knowledge, suggesting that the knowledge of the figurative meaning of an idiom is highly related to its frequency of use. Familiarity has a moderate positive correlation with final word predictability, indicating that the more familiar an idiom is rated, the more predictable it tends to be. Decomposability shows a moderate positive correlation with literality, suggesting that those idioms whose figurative meaning is easier to deduce from their constituents tend to have a plausible literal meaning. In affective terms, Spanish idioms tend to convey more negative (66%) than positive meanings (33%). Furthermore, valence and arousal show a quadratic relationship, in line with the typical U-shaped relationship found for single words, which means that the more emotionally valenced an idiom is rated, the more arousing it is considered to be. This database will provide researchers with a large pool of stimuli for studying the representation and processing of idioms in healthy and clinical populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M. Gavilán
- Department of Psychology, Research Center for Behavior Assessment (CRAMC), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Juan Haro
- Department of Psychology, Research Center for Behavior Assessment (CRAMC), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
| | - José Antonio Hinojosa
- Instituto Pluridisciplinar, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Psicología Experimental, Procesos Cognitivos y Logopedia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Ciencia Cognitiva—C3, Universidad Nebrija, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Fraga
- Department of Social Psychology, Basic Psychology and Methodology, Cognitive Processes & Behavior Research Group, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Pilar Ferré
- Department of Psychology, Research Center for Behavior Assessment (CRAMC), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
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Mariana B, Carolina L, Valeria A, Bautista EA, Silvia K, Lucía AF. Functional anatomy of idiomatic expressions. Brain Topogr 2021; 34:489-503. [PMID: 33948754 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-021-00843-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Idiomatic expressions (IE) are groups of words whose meaning is different from the sum of its components. Neural mechanisms underlying their processing are still debated, especially regarding lateralization, main structures involved, and whether this neural network is independent from the spoken language. To investigate the neural correlates of IE processing in healthy Spanish speakers.Twenty one native speakers of Spanish were asked to select one of 4 possible meanings for IE or literal sentences. fMRI scans were performed in a 3.0T scanner and processed by SPM 12 comparing IE vs. literal sentences. Laterality indices were calculated at the group level. IE activated a bilateral, slightly right-sided network comprising the pars triangularis and areas 9 and 10. In the left hemisphere (LH): the pars orbitalis, superior frontal, angular and fusiform gyrus. In the right hemisphere (RH): anterior insula, middle frontal, and superior temporal gyrus. This network reveals the importance of the RH, besides traditional LH areas, to comprehend IE. This agrees with the semantic coding model: the LH activates narrow semantic fields choosing one single meaning and ignoring others, and the RH detects distant semantic relationships, activating diffuse semantic fields. It is also in line with the configuration hypothesis: both meanings, literal and figurative, are executed simultaneously, until the literal meaning is definitively rejected and the figurative one is accepted. Processing IE requires the activation of fronto-temporal networks in both hemispheres. The results concur with previous studies in other languages, so these networks are independent from the spoken language. Understanding these mechanisms sheds light on IE processing difficulties in different clinical populations and must be considered when planning resective surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bendersky Mariana
- Living Anatomy Laboratory, 3rd Normal Anatomy Department, School of Medicine, Buenos Aires University, Paraguay 2155, Buenos Aires, Argentina. .,ENyS (Studies in Neurosciences and Complex Systems), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), National University A. Jauretche (UNAJ), El Cruce Hospital Néstor Kirchner, Avenue Calchaquí 5402, Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Lomlomdjian Carolina
- ENyS (Studies in Neurosciences and Complex Systems), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), National University A. Jauretche (UNAJ), El Cruce Hospital Néstor Kirchner, Avenue Calchaquí 5402, Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Department of Neurology, Hospital Austral, Pilar, Argentina
| | - Abusamra Valeria
- School of Philosophy and Literature, National Scientific and Technical Research Council-Argentina (CONICET), Buenos Aires University, Puan 480, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Elizalde Acevedo Bautista
- ENyS (Studies in Neurosciences and Complex Systems), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), National University A. Jauretche (UNAJ), El Cruce Hospital Néstor Kirchner, Avenue Calchaquí 5402, Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Faculty of Biomedical Science, Austral University, Mariano Acosta 1611, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,IIMT (Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional), CONICET-Austral University, Derqui-Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Kochen Silvia
- ENyS (Studies in Neurosciences and Complex Systems), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), National University A. Jauretche (UNAJ), El Cruce Hospital Néstor Kirchner, Avenue Calchaquí 5402, Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alba-Ferrara Lucía
- ENyS (Studies in Neurosciences and Complex Systems), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), National University A. Jauretche (UNAJ), El Cruce Hospital Néstor Kirchner, Avenue Calchaquí 5402, Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Faculty of Biomedical Science, Austral University, Mariano Acosta 1611, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Abstract
Figurative expressions have been shown to play a special role in evoking affective responses, as compared to their literal counterparts. This study provides the first database of conceptual metaphors that includes ratings of affective properties beyond psycholinguistic properties. To allow for the investigation of natural reading processes, 64 natural stories were created, half of which contained two or three conceptual metaphors that relied on the same mapping, whereas the other half contained the metaphors' literal counterparts. To allow for tighter control and manipulation of the different properties, 120 isolated sentences were also created, half of which contained one metaphorical word, which was replaced by its literal rendering in the other half. All stimuli were rated for emotional valence, arousal, imageability, and metaphoricity, and the pairs of metaphorical and literal stimuli were rated for their similarity in meaning. A measure of complexity was determined and computed. The stories were also rated for naturalness and understandability, and the sentences for familiarity. Differences between the metaphorical and literal stimuli and relationships between the affective and psycholinguistic variables were explored and are discussed in light of extant empirical research. In a nutshell, the metaphorical stimuli were rated as being higher in emotional arousal and easier to imagine than their literal counterparts, thus confirming a role of metaphor in evoking emotion and in activating sensorimotor representations. Affective variables showed the typical U-shaped relationship consistently found in word databases, whereby increasingly positive and negative valence is associated with higher arousal. Finally, interesting differences between the stories and sentences were observed.
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Felsenheimer A, Kieckhaefer C, Rapp AM. Familiarity, empathy and comprehension of metaphors in patients with borderline personality disorder. Psychiatry Res 2020; 291:113152. [PMID: 32540684 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Research on figurative language has a long tradition in psychiatry, as it is employed in psychotherapy and its (mis)comprehension plays a substantial role in differential diagnostics of schizophrenic spectrum disorders. Although often associated with empathy and mentalization, it has never been addressed in borderline personality disorder (BPD). Therefore, this study investigated metaphor comprehension and its relationship to cognitive and affective empathy in 20 patients with BPD and 20 matched healthy controls who completed a metaphor task comprising conventional metaphors (CM), novel metaphors (NM), meaningless stimuli (MS), and a rating scale of familiarity, a factor known to influence performance. For cognitive and affective empathy, the interpersonal reactivity index was applied. At first patients with BPD seemed to have significantly more problems in comprehending CM, but not NM or MS, and were less familiar with CM. When familiarity with the stimulus was controlled, this difference disappeared. As for empathy, only fantasy was positively related to familiar CM beyond borderline symptoms. Results indicate that the comprehension of novel metaphorical meaning is preserved in patients with BPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Felsenheimer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen 72076, Germany.
| | - Carolin Kieckhaefer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen 72076, Germany; LVR-Hospital Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf 40629, Germany
| | - Alexander Michael Rapp
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen 72076, Germany; Fliedner Klinik Stuttgart, Theodor Fliedner Stiftung, Stuttgart 70378, Germany
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