The late frontal positivity reflects incremental mental model updating: Graded predictability effects during
Weiqi Wang1, Lin Chen2, Charles Perfetti1
1Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Brain and Language
|November 28, 2025
Summary
Word predictability impacts reading comprehension. Higher predictability reduces early brain responses (N400), while lower predictability enhances later brain activity (late positivity), suggesting effects on mental model updating.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psycholinguistics
- Computational Linguistics
Background:
- High word predictability aids word meaning access, shown by reduced N400.
- The effect of word predictability on later reading comprehension stages (mental model updating) is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how word predictability influences later stages of reading comprehension.
- To clarify the role of word predictability in mental model updating using electroencephalography (EEG).
Main Methods:
- Utilized two-sentence passages from The New York Times.
- Assessed word predictability (surprisal) using a transformer-based language model.
- Analyzed EEG data using linear mixed-effects modeling.
Main Results:
- Increased word predictability correlated with reduced N400 amplitude in central-parietal regions.
- Decreased word predictability correlated with increased late frontal positivity.
- Word predictability demonstrated a graded effect on late frontal positivity.
Conclusions:
- Word predictability influences both early and late stages of reading comprehension.
- Late frontal positivity reflects mental model updating influenced by word predictability.
- Findings suggest predictability has a graded impact on cognitive processes during reading.
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