Abstract: By using CiteSpace, a visualized bibliographic analysis tool, the article investigates the focuses and trends of metaphor research in natural sciences. It draws heavily on Chinese and international journals of psychology, medicine, and computer science from 2009 to 2023. Results reveal that metaphor identification, comprehension, modeling and implication are the major topics in Chinese and international journals, varying with the recruited participants and adopted research instruments in their empirical studies. Different from the participants recruited in the experiments in international journals, those in Chinese journals are the normal thinking ones, with less attention to those of abnormal thinking. The empirical research in international journals predominantly adopts neuroimaging technology whereas the relevant research in Chinese journals frequently uses behavioral tools. This study points out that metaphor research demonstrates an interdisciplinary trend in natural sciences, and aligning with this trend can facilitate robust development in metaphor identification, comprehension, modeling and implication.