Picture Classification into Different Levels of Narrativity Using Subconscious Processes and Behavioral Data: An EEG Study

In this study, the narrativity of pictures is evaluated using behavioral scales and subconscious processes. The narrative context of the stimulus pictures was classified into four different Levels. For eliciting evoked potentials (EPs), a P300-based picture ranking system was adopted. The EPs were analyzed on significant differences between seen/unseen and Levels of the pictures. In the first paradigm, pictures were continuously presented for 15 s, and the subjects were asked to focus on the picture’s narrative. In the second paradigm, the pictures were randomly flashed, whereby one of the previously presented images was chosen as the target and unseen (non-target) pictures across Levels. The preliminary results from this Work in Progress (WIP) study show that seen images cause significantly different EPs compared to unseen images, especially in pictures with abstract and dramatic narratives. Therefore, target stimuli are ranked higher by the picture ranking system. In addition, the N600 potential is evident with abstract narrative stimuli, which have been previously reported to indicate memory function and post-perceptual processing. Further investigation will focus on differences in ERPs and ranking results across Levels and the extraction of possible EEG-biomarkers for narrative Levels in visual stimuli.