Neural dynamics of semantic control underlying generative storytelling.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Psychology

Background:

• Storytelling is crucial for knowledge transfer.
• Neural underpinnings of semantic control in storytelling remain under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate neural dynamics of semantic control during story generation.
• Differentiate neural patterns associated with ordinary, random, and creative storytelling.

Main Methods:

• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to record brain activity.
• Participants generated stories under varying semantic control conditions (ordinary, random, creative).
• Deep language models assessed adherence to task instructions.

Main Results:

• Neural synchrony observed in linguistic and visual areas across conditions.
• Parietal and frontal regions showed higher synchrony during random ideation.
• Creative stories exhibited distinct multivariate neural activity patterns in frontal and fronto-temporo-parietal cortices.
• Specific spatial frequency patterns modulated semantic control.
• Functional coupling in default, salience, and control networks differentiated creative stories.
• Enhanced temporal irreversibility between visual and high-level areas during creative ideation.

Conclusions:

• Neural mechanisms for regulating semantic exploration in narrative ideation identified.
• Distinct brain activity patterns serve as a neural signature for creative storytelling.
• Findings advance understanding of the cognitive and neural basis of human creativity.