Chaos control applied to heart rhythm dynamics

The dynamics of cardiovascular rhythms have been widely studied due to the key aspects of the heart in the physiology of living beings. Cardiac rhythms can be either periodic or chaotic, being respectively related to normal and pathological physiological functioning. In this regard, chaos control methods may be useful to promote the stabilization of unstable periodic orbits using small perturbations. In this article, the extended time-delayed feedback control method is applied to a natural cardiac pacemaker described by a mathematical model. The model consists of a modified Van der Pol equation that reproduces the behavior of this pacemaker. Results show the ability of the chaos control strategy to control the system response performing either the stabilization of unstable periodic orbits or the suppression of chaotic response, avoiding behaviors associated with critical cardiac pathologies.     

Dynamics of three coupled van der Pol oscillators with application to circadian rhythms

In this work we study a system of three van der Pol oscillators. Two of the oscillators are identical, and are not directly coupled to each other, but rather are coupled via the third oscillator. We investigate the existence of the in-phase mode in which the two identical oscillators have the same behavior. To this end we use the two variable expansion perturbation method (also known as multiple scales) to obtain a slow flow, which we then analyze using the computer algebra system MACSYMA and the numerical bifurcation software AUTO.Our motivation for studying this system comes from the presence of circadian rhythms in the chemistry of the eyes. We model the circadian oscillator in each eye as a van der Pol oscillator. Although there is no direct connection between the two eyes, they are both connected to the brain, especially to the pineal gland, which is here represented by a third van der Pol oscillator.     

Bursting synchronization in networks with long-range coupling mediated by a diffusing chemical substance

Many networks of physical and biological interest are characterized by a long-range coupling mediated by a chemical which diffuses through a medium in which oscillators are embedded. We considered a one-dimensional model for this effect for which the diffusion is fast enough so as to be implemented through a coupling whose intensity decays exponentially with the lattice distance. In particular, we analyzed the bursting synchronization of neurons described by two timescales (spiking and bursting activity), and coupled through such a long-range interaction network. One of the advantages of the model is that one can pass from a local (Laplacian) type of coupling to a global (all-to-all) one by varying a single parameter in the interaction term. We characterized bursting synchronization using an order parameter which undergoes a transition as the coupling parameters are changed through a critical value. We also investigated the role of an external time-periodic signal on the bursting synchronization properties of the network. We show potential applications in the control of pathological rhythms in biological neural networks.     

Three oscillator model of the heartbeat generator

The sinoatrial (SA) node is a group of self-oscillatory cells in the heart which beat rhythmically and initiate electric potentials, producing a wave of contraction that travels through the heart resulting in the circulation of blood. The SA node is an inhomogeneous collection of cells which have varying intrinsic frequencies. Experimental measurements of these frequencies have shown that the peripheral cells of the SA node have a higher natural frequency than do the interior cells. This is surprising to us since in 1:1 phase-locked motion of two oscillators of different frequency, the oscillator with the higher frequency leads the other oscillator by a phase angle. If the wave originates in the center of the SA node as one expects, then the interior cells would be leading in a 1:1 phase-locked motion and should therefore have a higher frequency than the peripheral cells. Our objective in this work is to explain this discrepancy between intuition and the measured results, and to determine possible advantages of having cells of lower frequency in the interior. Using a model of the SA node consisting of three coupled phase-only oscillators, we show that increased robustness of synchronized behavior (represented by a larger region of parameter space) comes as a result of the experimentally observed distribution of frequencies in the SA node. Associated with the loss of synchronized behavior is a complicated series of bifurcations called the “devil’s staircase”. We use our system to derive a 1D discontinuous map which exhibits the devil’s staircase, and we analyze its dynamics.     

Synchronous states in time-delay coupled periodic oscillators: A stability criterion

There are several works showing that nonzero time delay between nodes in an oscillator network can be responsible for several kinds of behavior as synchronization and chaos. Here, by using the Lyapunov linearizing method, in a system of two coupled oscillators derived as a particular case of the full connected network, it is shown that the time delay parameter has two sets of values: one that destabilizes the whole system and other that implies stability. Besides, there is a set of time delay values responsible for chaotic behaviors, even in a simple coupled oscillators system.     

Finite element and finite volume‐element simulation of pseudo‐ECGs and cardiac alternans

In this paper, we are interested in the spatio‐temporal dynamics of the transmembrane potential in paced isotropic and anisotropic cardiac tissues. In particular, we observe a specific precursor of cardiac arrhythmias that is the presence of alternans in the action potential duration. The underlying mathematical model consists of a reaction–diffusion system describing the propagation of the electric potential and the nonlinear interaction with ionic gating variables. Either conforming piecewise continuous finite elements or a finite volume‐element scheme are employed for the spatial discretization of all fields, whereas operator splitting strategies of first and second order are used for the time integration. We also describe an efficient mechanism to compute pseudo‐ECG signals, and we analyze restitution curves and alternans patterns for physiological and pathological cardiac rhythms. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of time delays on bifurcation and chaos in a non-autonomous system with multiple time delays

Time delays are often sources of complex behavior in dynamic systems. Yet its complexity needs to be further explored, particularly when multiple time delays are present. As a purpose to gain insight into such complexity under multiple time delays, we investigate the mechanism for the action of multiple time delays on a particular non-autonomous system in this paper. The original mathematical model under consideration is a Duffing oscillator with harmonic excitation. A delayed system is obtained by adding delayed feedbacks to the original system. Two time delays are involved in such system, one of which in the displacement feedback and the other in the velocity feedback. The time delays are taken as adjustable parameters to study their effects on the dynamics of the system. Firstly, the stability of the trivial equilibrium of the linearized system is discussed and the condition under which the equilibrium loses its stability is obtained. This leads to a critical stability boundary where Hopf bifurcation or double Hopf bifurcation may occur. Then, the chaotic behavior of such system is investigated in detail. Particular emphasis is laid on the effect of delay difference between two time delays on the chaotic properties. A Melnikov’s analysis is employed to obtain the necessary condition for onset of chaos resulting from homoclinic bifurcation. And numerical analyses via the bifurcation diagram and the top Lyapunov exponent are carried out to show the actual time delay effect. Both the results obtained by the two analyses show that the delay difference between two time delays plays a very important role in inducing or suppressing chaos, so that it can be taken as a simple but efficient “switch” to control the motion of a system: either from order to chaos or from chaos to order.     

Mathematical models of bipolar disorder

We use limit cycle oscillators to model bipolar II disorder, which is characterized by alternating hypomanic and depressive episodes and afflicts about 1% of the United States adult population. We consider two non-linear oscillator models of a single bipolar patient. In both frameworks, we begin with an untreated individual and examine the mathematical effects and resulting biological consequences of treatment. We also briefly consider the dynamics of interacting bipolar II individuals using weakly-coupled, weakly-damped harmonic oscillators. We discuss how the proposed models can be used as a framework for refined models that incorporate additional biological data. We conclude with a discussion of possible generalizations of our work, as there are several biologically-motivated extensions that can be readily incorporated into the series of models presented here.     

Experimental investigation of an oscillator with discontinuous support considering different system aspects

Non-smooth characteristics are, in general, the source of difficulties for the modeling and simulation of natural systems. These characteristics are usually related to either the friction phenomenon or the discontinuous behavior as intermittent contacts. This article develops an experimental investigation concerning non-smooth systems with discontinuous support. An experimental apparatus is developed in order to analyze the nonlinear dynamics of a single-degree of freedom system with discontinuous support. The apparatus is composed by an oscillator constructed by a car, free to move over a rail, connected to an excitation system. The discontinuous support is constructed considering mass–spring systems separated by a gap to the car position. This apparatus is instrumented to obtain all the system state variables. System dynamical behavior shows a rich response, presenting dynamical jumps, bifurcations and chaos. Different configurations of the experimental set up are treated in order to evaluate the influence of the internal impact within the car and also support characteristics in the system dynamics.     

Deriving main rhythms of the human cardiovascular system from the heartbeat time series and detecting their synchronization

We demonstrate a possibility of determining the instantaneous phases and instantaneous frequencies of the main rhythmic processes governing the cardiovascular dynamics in humans from heart rate variability data with the methods using bandpass filtration, empirical mode decomposition and wavelet transform. For the cases of spontaneous respiration and paced respiration with a fixed frequency we investigate synchronization between the rhythms of the cardiovascular system analyzing univariate data in the form of the heartbeat time series. It is shown that the main heart rhythm and the rhythm of slow regulation of blood pressure with fundamental frequency close to 0.1 Hz can be synchronized with respiration.     

Chaotic dynamics of two Van der Pol-Duffing oscillators with Huygens coupling

We consider a system of two coupled Van der Pol-Duffing oscillators with Huygens coupling as an appropriate model of two mechanical oscillators connected to a movable platform via a spring. We examine the complicated dynamics of the system and study its multistable behavior. In particular, we reveal the co-existence of several chaotic regimes and study the structure of the associated riddled basins.     

Parametric generation of robust chaos with time-delayed feedback and modulated pump source

We consider a chaos generator composed of two parametrically coupled oscillators whose natural frequencies differ by factor of two. The system is driven by modulated pump source on the third harmonic of the basic frequency, and on each next period of pumping the excitation of the oscillator of doubled frequency is stimulated by the signal from the oscillator of the basic frequency undergoing quadratic nonlinear transformation and time delay. Using qualitative analysis and numerical results, we argue that chaotic dynamics in the system corresponds to hyperbolic strange attractor. It is a kind of Smale–Williams solenoid embedded in the infinite-dimensional state space of the stroboscopic map of the time-delayed system.     

On the road towards multidimensional tori

The problem of persistence of four-frequency tori is considered in models represented by the coupled periodically driven self-oscillators. We show that the adding the third oscillator gives rise to destruction of the three-frequency tori, with appearance of regions of either chaotic attractors or four-frequency tori. As the coupling strength decreases, the four-frequency tori dominate, and the amplitude threshold of their occurrence vanishes. Also, for three oscillators, a domain of complete synchronization of the system by the external driving can disappear.     

Maps serving the combined coupling for use in environmental models and their behaviour in the presence of dynamical noise

Many physical, biological as well as the environmental problems, can be described by the dynamics of driven coupled oscillators. In order to study their behaviour as a function of coupling strength and nonlinearity, we considered dynamics of two maps serving the combined coupling (diffusive and linear) in the above fields. Firstly, we have considered a logistic difference equation on extended domain that is a part of the maps, that is discussed using its bifurcation diagram, Lyapunov exponent, sample as well as the permutation entropy. Secondly we have performed the dynamical analysis of the coupled maps using Lyapunov exponent and cross sample entropy in dependence on two coupling parameters. Further, we investigated how dynamical noise can affects the structure of their bifurcation diagrams. It was done (i) by the noise entering in two specific ways, that disturbs either the logistic parameter on extended domain or (ii) by an additive “shock” to the state variables. Finally, we demonstrated the effect of forcing by parametric noise, introduced in all maps’ parameter, on Lyapunov exponent of coupled maps.     

Chaotic dynamic and control for micro-electro-mechanical systems of massive storage with harmonic base excitation

This paper explores chaotic behaviour and control of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), which consist of thousands of small read/write probe tips that access gigabytes of data stored in a non-volatile magnetic surface. The model of the system is formed by two masses connected by a nonlinear spring and a viscous damping. The paper shows that, by means of an adequate feedback law, the masses can behave as two coupled Duffing’s oscillators, which may reach chaotic behaviour when harmonic forces are applied. The chaotic motion is destroyed by applying the following control strategies: (i) static output feedback control law with constant forces and (ii) geometric nonlinear control. The aim is to drive the masses to a set point even with harmonic base excitation, by using chaotic dynamics and nonlinear control. The paper shows that it is possible to obtain a positioning time around a few ms with sub-nanometre accuracy, velocities, accelerations and forces, as it appears in the design of present MEMS devices. Numerical simulations are used to verify the mathematical discussions.     

Switching dynamics of multiple linear oscillators

In this paper, the switching dynamics of linear oscillators with arbitrary discontinuous forcing are investigated through the concept of switching systems, and such switching systems consist of countable prescribed linear oscillators with different external excitations. The traditional treatments are to smoothen the discontinuity at switching points of two subsystems in a switching system, which can provide an approximate solution only. Therefore, an alternative method is presented to obtain an exact solution of the resultant switching linear system. Under periodic piecewise forcing and random forcing, the corresponding exact solutions and stochastic responses of switching linear systems are developed. For any periodic forcing, the periodic responses and stability of the resultant system composed of multiple linear oscillators in different time intervals are presented. In addition, the resultant switching system consisting of two oscillators are discussed, and the corresponding stability analysis is carried out.     

Energy interaction between linear and nonlinear oscillators (energy transfer through the subsystems in a hybrid system)

The analysis of the energy transfer between subsystems coupled in a hybrid system is an urgent problem for various applications. We present an analytic investigation of the energy transfer between linear and nonlinear oscillators for the case of free vibrations when the oscillators are statically or dynamically connected into a double-oscillator system and regarded as two new hybrid systems, each with two degrees of freedom. The analytic analysis shows that the elastic connection between the oscillators leads to the appearance of a two-frequency-like mode of the time function and that the energy transfer between the subsystems indeed exists. In addition, the dynamical linear constraint between the oscillators, each with one degree of freedom, coupled into the hybrid system changes the dynamics from single-frequency modes into two-frequency-like modes. The dynamical constraint, as a connection between the subsystems, is realized by a rolling element with inertial properties. In this case, the analytic analysis of the energy transfer between linear and nonlinear oscillators for free vibrations is also performed. The two Lyapunov exponents corresponding to each of the two eigenmodes are expressed via the energy of the corresponding eigentime components. Published in Ukrains'kyi Matematychnyi Zhurnal, Vol. 60, No. 6, pp. 796–814, June, 2008.     

Broad-scale small-world network topology induces optimal synchronization of flexible oscillators

The discovery of small-world and scale-free properties of many man-made and natural complex networks has attracted increasing attention. Of particular interest is how the structural properties of a network facilitate and constrain its dynamical behavior. In this paper we study the synchronization of weakly coupled limit-cycle oscillators in dependence on the network topology as well as the dynamical features of individual oscillators. We show that flexible oscillators, characterized by near zero values of divergence, express maximal correlation in broad-scale small-world networks, whereas the non-flexible (rigid) oscillators are best correlated in more heterogeneous scale-free networks. We found that the synchronization behavior is governed by the interplay between the networks global efficiency and the mutual frequency adaptation. The latter differs for flexible and rigid oscillators. The results are discussed in terms of evolutionary advantages of broad-scale small-world networks in biological systems.     

Impulsive perturbations of a three-trophic prey-dependent food chain system

The dynamics of an impulsively controlled three-trophic food chain system with general nonlinear functional responses for the intermediate consumer and the top predator are analyzed using the Floquet theory and comparison techniques. It is assumed that the impulsive controls act in a periodic fashion, the constant impulse (the biological control) and the proportional impulses (the chemical controls) acting with the same period, but not simultaneously. Sufficient conditions for the global stability of resource and intermediate consumer-free periodic solution and of the intermediate consumer-free periodic solution are established, the latter corresponding to the success of the integrated pest management strategy from which our food chain system arises. In this regard, it is seen that, theoretically speaking, the control strategy can be always made to succeed globally if proper pesticides are employed, while as far as the biological control is concerned, its global effectiveness can also be reached provided that the top predator is voracious enough or the (constant) number of top predators released each time is large enough or the release period is small enough. Some situations which lead to chaotic behavior of the system are also investigated by means of numerical simulations.