Noise-induced stabilization in population dynamics

We investigate a model in which strong noise in a subpopulation creates a metastable state in an otherwise unstable two-population system. The induced metastable state is vortexlike, and its persistence time grows exponentially with the noise strength. A variety of distinct scaling relations are observed depending on the relative strength of the subpopulation noises.     

Noise-induced current reversal in a stochastically driven dissipative tight-binding model

The cooperative effects induced by external random dichotomic and d.c. driving are studied for charge drift and diffusion in a one-dimensional dissipative tight-binding model. For a strongly correlated dichotomic field the effect of large diffusion acceleration is demonstrated. Additionally, it is shown that the averaged current direction can be inverted by applying a strongly correlated electric field (noise-induced negative conductivity).     

Noise-induced intermittency of a reflexive model with symmetry-induced equilibrium manifold

We discuss a route to intermittency based on the concept of reflexivity, namely on the interaction between observer and stochastic reality. A simple model mirroring the essential aspects of this interaction is shown to generate perennial out of equilibrium condition, intermittency and 1/f$1/f$-noise. In the absence of noise the model yields a symmetry-induced equilibrium manifold with two stable states. Noise makes this equilibrium manifold unstable, with an escape rate becoming lower and lower upon time increase, thereby generating an inverse power law distribution of waiting times. The distribution of the times of permanence in the basin of attraction of the equilibrium manifold are analytically predicted through the adoption of a first-passage time technique. Finally we discuss the possible extension of our approach to deal with the intermittency of complex systems in different fields.     

Noise-induced order

A new noise effect on chaos in one-dimensional mappings is reported. The transition from chaotic behavior to ordered behavior induced by external noise is observed in a certain class of one-dimensional mappings. This transition is clearly shown in terms of the Lyapunov number, entropy, power spectrum, and the nature of orbits.     

Noise-induced precursors of tonic-to-bursting transitions in hypothalamic neurons and in a conductance-based model

The dynamics of neurons is characterized by a variety of different spiking patterns in response to external stimuli. One of the most important transitions in neuronal response patterns is the transition from tonic firing to burst discharges, i.e., when the neuronal activity changes from single spikes to the grouping of spikes. An increased number of interspike-interval sequences of specific temporal correlations was detected in anticipation of temperature induced tonic-to-bursting transitions in both, experimental impulse recordings from hypothalamic brain slices and numerical simulations of a stochastic model. Analysis of the modelling data elucidates that the appearance of such patterns can be related to particular system dynamics in the vicinity of the period-doubling bifurcation. It leads to a nonlinear response on de- and hyperpolarizing perturbations introduced by noise. This explains why such particular patterns can be found as reliable precursors of the neurons' transition to burst discharges.     

Noise-induced hearing damage caused by metabolic exhaustion: a mathematical model

A mathematical model for noise-induced hearing loss is based on the assumption that hair cells are damaged, temporarily or permanently, by metabolic exhaustion, and that the number of damaged hair cells and the hearing loss are monotonically increasing functions of an energy deficiency. The purpose of the model is to focus on the influence of sound intensity, exposure duration, and temporal pattern of the sound exposure on the noise-induced hearing loss from long-duration exposures. The model is restricted to the range of sound levels where metabolic exhaustion probably is the main reason for the hair cell damage. Only exposures with similar frequency spectra and producing moderate hearing losses are considered; frequency dependence is not discussed.     

Noise-induced order II

A curious noise effect in certain maps reported earlier is investigated further. A striking feature of these maps is obtained in the symbolic dynamical approach. The decrease of entropy is attributed to a simple mechanism which deletes certain states in the symbolic dynamics, and the value of the modified entropy is calculated based on this picture.     

Noise-induced linewidth in frequency combs

Frequency combs generated by trains of pulses emitted from mode-locked lasers are analyzed when the center time and phase of the pulses undergo noise-induced random walk, which broadens the comb lines. Asymptotic analysis and computation reveal that, when the standard deviation of the center-time jitter of the nth pulse scales as n(p/2) where p is a jitter exponent, the linewidth of the kth comb line scales as k(2/p). The linear-dispersionless (p=1) and pure-soliton (p=3) dynamics in lasers are derived as special cases of this time-frequency duality relation. In addition, the linewidth induced by phase jitter decreases with power P(out), as (P(out))(-1/p).     

Noise-induced excitability in oscillatory media

A noise-induced phase transition to excitability is reported in oscillatory media with FitzHugh-Nagumo dynamics. This transition takes place via a noise-induced stabilization of a deterministically unstable fixed point of the local dynamics, while the overall phase-space structure of the system is maintained. Spatial coupling is required to prevent oscillations through suppression of fluctuations (via clustering in the case of local coupling). Thus, the joint action of coupling and noise leads to a different type of phase transition and results in a stabilization of the system. The resulting regime is shown to display characteristic traits of excitable media, such as stochastic resonance and wave propagation. This effect thus allows the transmission of signals through an otherwise globally oscillating medium.     

Noise-induced coherence in an excitable system

Noise-induced coherence resonance, an effect akin to the well-known phenomenon of stochastic resonance, has been described recently for excitable systems driven by white noise. The purpose of this Letter is to show that coherence enhancement in a system of this kind can also be achieved by modifying the correlation time of the noise.     

Noise-induced global asymptotic stability

We prove analytically that additive and parametric (multiplicative) Gaussian distributed white noise, interpreted in either the Itô or Stratonovich formalism, induces global asymptotic stability in two prototypical dynamical systems designated as supercritical (the Landau equation) and subcritical, respectively. In both systems without noise, variation of a parameter leads to a switching between a single, globally stable steady state and multiple, locally stable steady states. With additive noise this switching is mirrored in the behavior of the extrema of probability densities at the same value of the parameter. However, parametric noise causes a noise-amplitude-dependent shift (postponement) in the parameter value at which the switching occurs. It is shown analytically that the density converges to a Dirac delta function when the solution of the Fokker-Planck equation is no longer normalizable.     

Noise-induced synchronization and coherence resonance of a Hodgkin-Huxley model of thermally sensitive neurons

We study nontrivial effects of noise on synchronization and coherence of a chaotic Hodgkin-Huxley model of thermally sensitive neurons. We demonstrate that identical neurons which are not coupled but subjected to a common fluctuating input (Gaussian noise) can achieve complete synchronization when the noise amplitude is larger than a threshold. For nonidentical neurons, noise can induce phase synchronization. Noise enhances synchronization of weakly coupled neurons. We also find that noise enhances the coherence of the spike trains. A saddle point embedded in the chaotic attractor is responsible for these nontrivial noise-induced effects. Relevance of our results to biological information processing is discussed.     

Noise-induced transport with low randomness

We study the transport of overdamped Brownian particles in periodic potentials subject to a spatially modulated Gaussian white noise. We derive an analytical expression for the diffusion coefficient of particles. By means of velocity, diffusion coefficient, and their ratio (Péclet number) we discuss (a) symmetric potential and modulation of noise intensity and (b) a ratchet profile with strong noise modulation. It is shown that state dependent fluctuations may not only induce directed transport, but also a pronounced coherence of transport if the potential exhibits a strong asymmetry.     

Noise-induced synchronization in bidirectionally coupled type-I neurons

We present here some studies on noise-induced order and synchronous firing in a system of bidirectionally coupled generic type-I neurons. We find that transitions from unsynchronized to completely synchronized states occur beyond a critical value of noise strength that has a clear functional dependence on neuronal coupling strength and input values. For an inhibitory-excitatory (IE) synaptic coupling, the approach to a partially synchronized state is shown to vary qualitatively depending on whether the input is less or more than a critical value. We find that introduction of noise can cause a delay in the bifurcation of the firing pattern of the excitatory neuron for IE coupling.     

Risk of population extinction from periodic and abrupt changes of environment

A simulation model of a population having internal (genetic) structure is presented. The population is subject to selection pressure coming from the environment which is the same in the whole system but changes in time. Reproduction has a sexual character with recombination and mutation. Two cases are considered — oscillatory changes of the environment and abrupt ones (catastrophes). We show how the survival chance of a population depends on the maximum allowed size of the population, the length of the genotypes characterizing individuals, selection pressure and the characteristics of the “climate” changes, either their period of oscillations or the scale of the abrupt shift.     

Noise-induced front propagation in a bistable system

A bistable system satisfying a generalized Maxwell condition exhibits an interface solution deterministically at rest. It is shown that state-dependent (multiplicative) noise induces an average motion of this interface into the region of higher noise intensity.