Temporal pole initiation of neuronal avalanches is associated with episodic Memory performance in Mild Cognitive Impairment

The study examined the relationship between brain activity and memory impairment in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Researchers analyzed brain activity recordings from 29 individuals with MCI and 32 healthy controls using MEG technology. They found that neuronal avalanches—brief bursts of brain activity—propagate from the hippocampus and adjacent brain regions. In the MCI group, greater activation from the left temporal pole was associated with worse memory performance, measured by delayed free recall test. In healthy controls, this relationship was reversed. Patients with MCI also showed greater hippocampal atrophy. The findings suggest that MCI involves a reorganization of brain dynamics rather than a simple change in its frequency.