Neural dynamics of narrative structure-building in visual stories.

While models of discourse comprehension describe the process of structure building during mental model construction, neurophysiological explorations of this process are limited. Here, we use time-frequency analysis of EEG data to explore the spectral power dynamics associated with the narrative comprehension of comics. Using an existing dataset wherein 22 participants viewed sets of six sequential comic panels, we performed spectral decomposition from theta to gamma bands over the full extent of narrative processing (10+ seconds). Power incrementally decreased in both alpha (8-12 Hz) and low beta (12.5-20 Hz) frequency bands as narratives unfolded. These results are contextualized in the literature, where some suggest that alpha and low beta frequency bands act as mechanisms of suppression and enhancement to modulate attention. Study findings are consistent with changes in alpha and low beta power reflecting domain-general processes of narrative structure building during discourse comprehension.