Phase ordering in the near-critical regime of the Alzheimer's and normal brain

Abstract

Criticality, observed during second-order phase transitions, is an emergent phenomenon. The brain operates near criticality, where complex systems exhibit high correlations. The critical brain hypothesis suggests that the brain becomes an efficient learning system in this state but poor in memory, while sub-criticality enhances memory but inhibits learning. As a system approaches criticality, it develops "domain"-like regions with competing phases and increased spatiotemporal correlations that diverge. The dynamics of these domains depend on the system's proximity to criticality. This study investigates the phase ordering properties of a spin-lattice model derived from Alzheimer's and cognitively normal subjects, expecting significant differences in their proximity to criticality. However, our findings show no conclusive distinction in the distal properties from criticality, as reflected in the phase ordering behavior of the Alzheimer's and cognitively normal brain.