Stochastic resonance on paced genetic regulatory small-world networks: effects of asymmetric potentials

We study the phenomenon of stochastic resonance on small-world networks consisting of bistable genetic regulatory units, whereby the external subthreshold periodic forcing is introduced as a pacemaker trying to impose its rhythm on the whole network through the single unit to which it is introduced. Without the addition of additive spatiotemporal noise, however, the whole network remains forever trapped in one of the two stable steady states of the local dynamics. We show that the correlation between the frequency of subthreshold pacemaker activity and the response of the network is resonantly dependent on the intensity of additive noise. The reported pacemaker driven stochastic resonance depends significantly on the asymmetry of the two potential wells characterizing the bistable dynamics, which can be tuned via a single system parameter. In particular, we show that the ratio between the clustering coefficient and the characteristic path length is a suitable quantity defining the ability of a small-world network to facilitate the outreach of the pacemaker-emitted subthreshold rhythm, but only if the asymmetry between the potentials is practically negligible. In case of substantially asymmetric potentials the impact of the small-world topology is less profound and cannot warrant an enhancement of stochastic resonance by units that are located far from the pacemaker.     

Pacemaker enhanced noise-induced synchrony in cellular arrays

We study effects of additive noise on a pacemaker driven excitable cellular array. We find that the subthreshold periodic pacemaker can largely enhance noise-induced synchrony in the array already at very small noise intensities. The phenomenon is tested for robustness against various diffusion coefficients and system sizes. Results are discussed in view of their biological importance.     

Amplified Signal Response by Neuronal Diversity on Complex Networks

The effect of diversity on dynamics of coupled FitzHugh-Nagumo neurons on complex networks is numerically investigated, where each neuron is subjected to an external subthreshold signal. With the diversity the network is a mixture of excitable and oscillatory neurons, and the diversity is determined by the variance of the system＇s parameter. The complex network is constructed by randomly adding long-range connections （shortcuts） on a nearest-neighbouring coupled one-dimensional chain. Numerical results show that external signals are maximally magnified at an intermediate value of the diversity, as in the case of well-known stochastic resonance, burthermore, the effects of the number of shortcuts and coupled strength on the diversity-induced phenomena are also discussed. These findings exhibit that the diversity may play a constructive role in response to external signal, and highlight the importance of the diversity on such complex networks.     

Stochastic resonance on Newman-Watts networks of Hodgkin-Huxley neurons with local periodic driving

We study the phenomenon of stochastic resonance on Newman-Watts small-world networks consisting of biophysically realistic Hodgkin-Huxley neurons with a tunable intensity of intrinsic noise via voltage-gated ion channels embedded in neuronal membranes. Importantly thereby, the subthreshold periodic driving is introduced to a single neuron of the network, thus acting as a pacemaker trying to impose its rhythm on the whole ensemble. We show that there exists an optimal intensity of intrinsic ion channel noise by which the outreach of the pacemaker extends optimally across the whole network. This stochastic resonance phenomenon can be further amplified via fine-tuning of the small-world network structure, and depends significantly also on the coupling strength among neurons and the driving frequency of the pacemaker. In particular, we demonstrate that the noise-induced transmission of weak localized rhythmic activity peaks when the pacemaker frequency matches the intrinsic frequency of subthreshold oscillations. The implications of our findings for weak signal detection and information propagation across neural networks are discussed.     

Stochastic resonance in FitzHugh-Nagumo system with time-delayed feedback

The dynamics of a periodically driven FitzHugh-Nagumo system with time-delayed feedback and Gaussian white noise is investigated. The stochastic resonance which is characterized by the Fourier coefficient Q is numerically calculated. It is found that the stochastic resonance of the system is a non-monotonic function of the noise strength and the signal period. The variation of the time-delayed feedback can induce periodic stochastic resonance in the system.     

Stochastic resonance, reverse-resonance, and resonant activation induced by a multi-state noise

In this paper, we investigate the periodic response for a linear system driven by a multiplicative multi-state noise (which is composed of the multiplication of two dichotomous noises) to an input temporal oscillatory signal, and the escape of Brownian particles over the fluctuating potential barrier for a system with a piece-wise linear potential and driven by an additive multi-state noise (which is also composed of the multiplication of two dichotomous noises). For the first system, we get the stochastic resonance phenomenon for the amplitude of the periodic response vs. the two dichotomous noise strengths, and the phenomenon of reverse-resonance for the amplitude of the periodic response vs. k, which represents the asymmetry degree of the dichotomous noises. For the second system, we obtain the resonant activation phenomenon, for which the mean first passage time of the Brownian particles over the fluctuating potential barrier shows a minimum as the function of the transition rates of the multi-state noise.     

Threshold-diversity-induced resonance

The effect of diversity on a system of coupled threshold elements is investigated, where each element is driven by a common periodic signal. Diversity is introduced to the system by assuming that the thresholds of all units are heterogeneous, e.g. the thresholds follow a Gaussian or other distribution. A combined numerical and analytical approach shows that the response of the system to the input signal is maximized at a moderate value of the diversity amplitude, which is similar to the well-known stochastic resonance phenomenon induced by noise. Our findings exhibit that the diversity, a kind of spatial disorder, may play a similar role to noise as a kind of temporal disorder.     

Directional motion, current reversals and mass separation in a symmetrical periodic potential

The transport of a symmetric periodic potential driven by a static bias and correlated noises is investigated for both the over-damped case and the under-damped case. By both theoretical approximation and numerical simulations, we study steady current of an over-damped Brownian particle moving in the potential. It is shown that the symmetric periodic potential driven by a static bias and the correlated noises is simultaneously able to exhibit directional transport, a single current reversal, as well as a double current reversal. For the under-damped case, we examine the dynamic at various inertial strengths by direct simulations of the stochastic differential equations. We specially focus on the influence of inertial term in the particle dynamics for the noise induced, directed current. Different directions of the steady current is found for different masses of the particles, thus an efficient scheme to separate the Brownian particles according to their mass is suggested.     

Model of the symmetry evolution of a nonlinear continuous system

A simple algebraic model is constructed with the aim of investigating the time evolution of the symmetry properties of a nonlinear continuous system. The model is constructed so as to mimic the dynamics of a two-dimensional inviscid flow bounded by periodic conditions, but can easily generalized to more complex dynamics involving magnetized plasma configurations.     

Modulational instability and exact soliton solutions for a twist-opening model of DNA dynamics

We study the nonlinear dynamics of DNA which takes into account the twist-opening interactions due to the helicoidal molecular geometry. The small amplitude dynamics of the model is shown to be governed by a solution of a set of coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations. We analyze the modulational instability and solitary wave solution in the case. On the basis of this system, we present the condition for modulation instability occurrence and attention is paid to the impact of the backbone elastic constant K. It is shown that high values of K extend the instability region. Through the Jacobian elliptic function method, we derive a set of exact solutions of the twist-opening model of DNA. These solutions include, Jacobian periodic solution as well as kink and kink-bubble solitons.     

A semi-analytic method for computing the long-time order parameter dynamics in mean-field coupled overdamped oscillators with colored noises

The order parameter dynamics of a mean-field model is frequently investigated in macroscopic cumulant dynamics, from which a bifurcation can be predicted qualitatively. In this Letter, for quantitatively investigating the long-time order parameter dynamics, a semi-analytic method is proposed based on approximate nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations. Applying the new method to the mean-field model of periodically driven overdamped bistable oscillators with colored noise, we exhibit the bifurcation behavior and the nonlinear stochastic resonance of the order parameter by tuning noise intensity or coupling coefficient, and the accuracy of the new method are verified by direct simulation. Our observations disclose some new properties about the order parameter dynamics of the mean-field model. For example, the periodic signal shifts the critical coupling coefficient to a larger value, while the nonzero correlation time of the colored noise shifts it to a lower value. Our observation also discloses that there is no quantitatively corresponding relation between the resonant peak and the critical bifurcation parameter of the Gaussian moment system.     

The inverse excitation-induced abnormal spiral wave

The effects of a local constant forcing on spiral waves in two-dimensional excitable media described by Bär model are investigated. A constant external forcing is imposed on the core of spiral wave, leading to parameter variability of a medium. It is found that the forcing can significantly alter the shape and rotation period of spiral wave when the values of related parameters are properly chosen. The change of wave structure is attributed to the transition from normal excitation to inverse excitation in the forced medium. An abnormal spiral wave with a very thick spiral arm has been observed. The physical mechanism underlying these phenomena is theoretically analyzed.     

Limit cycles for extended bistable stochastic resonance system

Bistable system is a typical model in stochastic resonance (SR) researching. And it has been known that the deterministic dynamics of a noised system plays an important role in making SR phenomena occur. By embedding a non-autonomous system onto a cylinder, or extending the one-dimensional non-autonomous system as a three-dimensional autonomous system restricted on a cylinder, this paper theoretically analyzes the dynamics of the well-known periodically driven bistable system. After three limit cycles (equivalent to the periodic states of the un-extended system) are proved existent for subthreshold case, they are shown to be preserved even in the suprathreshold case with large driving frequency. Moreover, it is also proved in suprathreshold case that the three ones keep touching each other and combine into one larger globally stable limit cycle as the driving frequency decreases to some certain degree.     

Stochastic Signal Induced Multiple Spatial Coherence Resonances and Spiral Waves in Excitable Media

Multiple spatial coherence resonances and spiral waves with various temporal-spatial structures are simulated in a two-dimensional network of excitable cells driven by a stochastic signal. The relationship between the multiple resonances and correspondingly different transitions of the spiral wave are elucidated. The results further provide a possible approach of applications of stochastic signal to evoke pattern transitions in excitable media.     

Synchronization based system identification of an extended excitable system

A basic state and parameter estimation scheme for an extended excitable system is presented, where time series from a spatial grid of sampling points are used to drive and synchronize corresponding model equations. Model parameters are estimated by minimizing the synchronization error. This estimation scheme is demonstrated using data from generic models of excitable media exhibiting spiral wave dynamics and chaotic spiral break-up that are implemented on a graphics processing unit.     

Stochastic resonance in time-delayed bistable systems driven by weak periodic signal

We study theoretically a bistable system with time-delayed feedback driven by a weak periodic force. The effective potential function and the steady-state probability density are derived. The delay time and the strength of its feedback can change the shapes of the potential wells. In the adiabatic approximation, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the system with a weak periodic force is obtained. The time-delayed feedback modulates the magnitude of SNR by changing the shape of the potential and the effective strength of the signal. The maximum of SNR decreases with increasing the feedback intensity ?. When ? is negative (or positive), the time delay can suppress (or promote) the stochastic resonance phenomenon.     

Coherence and stochastic resonance in threshold crossing detectors with delayed feedback

We consider the dynamical behavior of threshold systems driven by external periodic and stochastic signals and internal delayed feedback. Specifically, the effect of positive delayed feedback on the sensitivity of a threshold crossing detector (TCD) to periodic forcing embedded in noise is investigated. The system has an intrinsic ability to oscillate in the presence of positive feedback. We first show conditions under which such reverberatory behavior is enhanced by noise, which is a form of coherence resonance (CR) for this system. Further, for input signals that are subthreshold in the absence of feedback, the open-loop stochastic resonance (SR) characteristic can be sharply enhanced by positive delayed feedback. This enhancement is shown to depend on the stimulus period, and is maximal when this period is matched to an integer multiple of the delay. Reverberatory oscillations, which are particularly prominent after the offset of periodic forcing, are shown to be eliminated by a summing network of such TCDs with local delayed feedback. Theoretical analysis of the crossing rate dynamics qualitatively accounts for the existence of CR and the resonant behavior of the SR effect as a function of delay and forcing frequency.     

Fluctuation-driven directed transport in the presence of Lévy flights

The role of Lévy flights on fluctuation-driven transport in time independent periodic potentials with broken spatial symmetry is studied. Two complementary approaches are followed. The first one is based on a generalized Langevin model describing overdamped dynamics in a ratchet type external potential driven by Lévy white noise with stability index α in the range 1<α<2. The second approach is based on the space fractional Fokker-Planck equation describing the corresponding probability density function (PDF) of particle displacements. It is observed that, even in the absence of an external tilting force or a bias in the noise, the Lévy flights drive the system out of the thermodynamic equilibrium and generate an up-hill current (i.e., a current in the direction of the steeper side of the asymmetric potential). For small values of the noise intensity there is an optimal value of α yielding the maximum current. The direction and magnitude of the current can be manipulated by changing the Lévy noise asymmetry and the potential asymmetry. For a sharply localized initial condition, the PDF of staying at the minimum of the potential exhibits scaling behavior in time with an exponent bigger than the −1/α exponent corresponding to the force free case.     

Global organization of dynamics in oscillatory heterogeneous excitable media

An oscillatory heterogeneous excitable medium undergoes a transition from periodic target patterns to a bursting rhythm driven by the spontaneous initiation and termination of spiral waves as coupling or density is reduced. We illustrate these phenomena in monolayers of chick embryonic heart cells using calcium-sensitive fluorescent dyes. These results are modeled in a heterogeneous cellular automaton in which the neighborhood of interaction and cell density is modified. Parameters that give rise to bursting rhythms are organized in distinct zones in parameter space, leading to a global organization that should be applicable to the dynamics in a large class of excitable media.