Researchers at the University of Liverpool have found that one of Shakespeare’s favorite linguistic tricks – throwing odd words into otherwise normal sentences or using a noun as an unexpected verb – surprises the brain in a way that generates a sudden burst of mental activity that actually shows up on a brain scan. This heightened brain energy may be one reason Shakespeare’s plays pack such a dramatic punch with audiences.
The researchers attached electrodes to the scalps of 20 people who read selected lines from Shakespeare’s plays to measure brain response. The illustration above shows the result.