Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, disrupt cognitive functions long before clinical symptoms become apparent. One promising early indicator of cognitive decline is event segmentation—the brain’s ability to parse continuous experiences into meaningful events. Research suggests that deficits in event segmentation impair memory formation and daily functioning, making it a valuable cognitive marker for early detection.

This presentation will explore the neural mechanisms of event segmentation, its role in memory and cognition, and its potential as a biomarker for neurodegenerative disease. We will discuss findings from behavioral measurements and neuroimaging that highlight how event segmentation is altered in individuals at risk for cognitive decline. We will also show our recent findings from human single neuron recording that links event segmentation behaviors with dopaminergic activity, a dsyfunction neural signal open associated with the progression of neurodegenerative disease.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Summarize the cognitive process of event segmentation.

2. Recognize the link between event segmentation and dopaminergic activity.

3. Summarize the implications of event segmentation studies for early detection of cognitive decline.