The science of sarcasm

Or the neuroscience behind our detection of it. Although it comes easily to most of us, for some it's decidedly more difficult:

Many parts of the brain are involved in processing sarcasm, according to recent brain imaging studies. Rankin has found that the temporal lobes and the parahippocampus are involved in picking up the sarcastic tone of voice. While the left hemisphere of the brain seems to be responsible for interpreting literal statements, the right hemisphere and both frontal lobes seem to be involved in figuring out when the literal statement is intended to mean exactly the opposite, according to a study by researchers at the University of Haifa. Or you could just get a sarcasm detection device.

Sarcasm seems to receive rather bad press in the collective spheres of wit and humour. Many often opine, in a truly asinine manner, that the particular mode is the 'lowest form' of wit. I've often thought about writing an essay in defense of sarcasm; I don't think anyone would take issue with the argument that those who comment on the 'lowest form of wit' aren't particularly witty people to begin with.

Much like those who say that swearing is a sign of a low vocabulary. Are they in any position to comment? At least we haven't gone on to question whether women are funny – a debate which always turns at least a few female heads.