Before the task begins: Resting-state gamma oscillations as predictors of face- name associative memory

Introduction: Assessing associative memory, particularly in complex paradigms such as face-name association, enables monitoring of cognitive functioning. Electrophysiological correlates of associative memory could provide fundamental insights into the functional role of brain dynamics. This study explores whether resting-state EEG (rsEEG) spectral power and coherence predict performance on the Italian Face-Name Association Test (ItFNAT). Methods: Thirty-two healthy adults ( M _age = 23.28) underwent an eyes-closed rsEEG recording before the administration of the ItFNAT, which provides scores for immediate recall (IR), delayed free recall (DFR), and delayed total recall (DTR). Frontal, temporal, central and posterior rsEEG spectral power density and theta and gamma network coherence were analyzed in relation to the test scores. Results: High-gamma power (h-γ, 51–100 Hz) significantly predicted IR and DTR, explaining over 38% of the variance. Temporal h-γ power was positively associated with memory performance, whereas posterior h-γ power showed a negative correlation. Furthermore, temporal low-gamma power (l-γ, 30–49 Hz) positively predicted DTR. Additionally, coherence analyses showed that DFR and DTR scores were negatively correlated with frontal-parietal l-γ coherence. Discussion: Spontaneous gamma activity emerged as a key predictor of associative memory performance in healthy adults, with a major contribution from the temporal and posterior cortex. The negative association between frontal-parietal l-γ coherence and delayed recall suggests that synergic rather than redundant resting-state networks may support more efficient associative retrieval.