Synchronized Firing in Coupled Inhomogeneous Excitable Neurons

We study the firing synchronization behavior of the inhomogeneous excitable media. Phase synchronization of neuron firings is observed with increasing the coupling, while the phases of neurons are different (out-of-phase synchronization). We found the synchronization of bursts can be greatly enhanced by applying an external forcing (in-phase synchronization). The external forcing can be either a periodic or just homogeneous thermal noise. The mechanism responsible for this enhancement is discussed.     

Synchronized Firing in Coupled Inhomogeneous Excitable Neurons

We study the firing synchronization behavior of the inhomogeneous excitable media. Phase synchronizationof neuron firings is observed with increasing the coupling, while the phases of neurons are different (out-of-phase synchronization). We found the synchronization of bursts can be greatly enhanced by applying an external forcing (in-phasesynchronization). The external forcing can be either a periodic or just homogeneous thermal noise. The mechanismresponsible for this enhancement is discussed.PACS numbers: 05.45.-a, 87.10. e     

Dynamical mechanism of anticipating synchronization in excitable systems

We analyze the phenomenon of anticipating synchronization of two excitable systems with unidirectional delayed coupling which are subject to the same external forcing. We demonstrate for different paradigms of excitable system that, due to the coupling, the excitability threshold for the slave system is always lower than that for the master. As a consequence the two systems respond to a common external forcing with different response times. This allows us to explain in a simple way the mechanism behind the phenomenon of anticipating synchronization in excitable systems.     

Phase synchronization in tilted deterministic ratchets

We study phase synchronization for a ratchet system. We consider the deterministic dynamics of a particle in a tilted ratchet potential with an external periodic forcing, in the overdamped case. The ratchet potential has to be tilted in order to obtain a rotator or self-sustained nonlinear oscillator in the absence of external periodic forcing. This oscillator has an intrinsic frequency that can be entrained with the frequency of the external driving. We introduced a linear phase through a set of discrete time events and the associated average frequency, and show that this frequency can be synchronized with the frequency of the external driving. In this way, we can properly characterize the phenomenon of synchronization through Arnold tongues, which represent regions of synchronization in parameter space, and discuss their implications for transport in ratchets.     

Noise induced amplification of sub-threshold pulses in multi-thread excitable semiconductor ‘neurons’

We report on the transmission of electrical pulses through a semiconductor structure which emulates biological neurons. The ‘neuron’ emits bursts of electrical spikes whose coherence we study as a function of the amplitude and frequency of a sine wave stimulus and noise. Noise is found to enhance the transmission of pulses below the firing threshold of the neuron. We demonstrate stochastic resonance when the power of the output signal passes through a maximum at an optimum noise value. Under appropriate conditions, we observe coherence resonance and stochastic synchronization. Data are quantitatively explained by modelling the FitzHugh–Nagumo equations derived from the electrical equivalent circuit of the soma. We have therefore demonstrated a physically realistic neuron structure that provides first principles feedback on mathematical models and that is well suited to building arborescent networks of pulsing neurons.     

Understanding synchronization induced by “common noise”

Noise-induced synchronization refers to the phenomenon where two uncoupled, independent nonlinear oscillators can achieve synchronization through a “common” noisy forcing. Here, “common” means identical. However, “common noise” is a construct which does not exist in practice. Noise by nature is unique and two noise signals cannot be exactly the same. How to justify and understand this central concept in noise-induced synchronization? What is the relation between noise-induced synchronization and the usual chaotic synchronization? Here we argue and demonstrate that noise-induced synchronization is closely related to generalized synchronization as characterized by the emergence of a functional relation between distinct dynamical systems through mutual interaction. We show that the same mechanism applies to the phenomenon of noise-induced (or chaos-induced) phase synchronization.     

Clustering of arrays of chaotic chemical oscillators by feedback and forcing

Feedback and external forcing are applied to an array of chaotic electrochemical oscillators through variations in the applied potential. We see transitions from intermittent clusters to stable chaotic clusters to stable periodic clusters to synchronized states as the feedback gain and forcing amplitude, respectively, are varied. With forcing up to four clusters are observed in stable states. The transition to synchronization with feedback occurs by the increase in the size of one cluster at the expense of the others.     

Phase synchronization in ensembles of bursting oscillators

We study the effects of mutual and external chaotic phase synchronization in ensembles of bursting oscillators. These oscillators (used for modeling neuronal dynamics) are essentially multiple time scale systems. We show that a transition to mutual phase synchronization takes place on the bursting time scale of globally coupled oscillators, while on the spiking time scale, they behave asynchronously. We also demonstrate the effect of the onset of external chaotic phase synchronization of the bursting behavior in the studied ensemble by a periodic driving applied to one arbitrarily taken neuron. We also propose an explanation of the mechanism behind this effect. We infer that the demonstrated phenomenon can be used efficiently for controlling bursting activity in neural ensembles.     

Chaotic phase synchronization in small-world networks of bursting neurons

We investigate the chaotic phase synchronization in a system of coupled bursting neurons in small-world networks. A transition to mutual phase synchronization takes place on the bursting time scale of coupled oscillators, while on the spiking time scale, they behave asynchronously. It is shown that phase synchronization is largely facilitated by a large fraction of shortcuts, but saturates when it exceeds a critical value. We also study the external chaotic phase synchronization of bursting oscillators in the small-world network by a periodic driving signal applied to a single neuron. It is demonstrated that there exists an optimal small-world topology, resulting in the largest peak value of frequency locking interval in the parameter plane, where bursting synchronization is maintained, even with the external driving. The width of this interval increases with the driving amplitude, but decrease rapidly with the network size. We infer that the externally applied driving parameters outside the frequency locking region can effectively suppress pathologically synchronized rhythms of bursting neurons in the brain.     

Chaotic phase synchronization in a modular neuronal network of small-world subnetworks

We investigate the onset of chaotic phase synchronization of bursting oscillators in a modular neuronal network of small-world subnetworks. A transition to mutual phase synchronization takes place on the bursting time scale of coupled oscillators, while on the spiking time scale, they behave asynchronously. It is shown that this bursting synchronization transition can be induced not only by the variations of inter- and intra-coupling strengths but also by changing the probability of random links between different subnetworks. We also analyze the effect of external chaotic phase synchronization of bursting behavior in this clustered network by an external time-periodic signal applied to a single neuron. Simulation results demonstrate a frequency locking tongue in the driving parameter plane, where bursting synchronization is maintained, even with the external driving. The width of this synchronization region increases with the signal amplitude and the number of driven neurons but decreases rapidly with the network size. Considering that the synchronization of bursting neurons is thought to play a key role in some pathological conditions, the presented results could have important implications for the role of externally applied driving signal in controlling bursting activity in neuronal ensembles.     

Bursting synchronization in non-locally coupled maps

Neuron activity presents two timescales, a fast one related to action-potential spiking, and a slow timescale in which bursting takes place. Bursting activity in neuron ensembles can be synchronized, meaning the adjustment of the bursting phases due to coupling. We investigated bursting synchronization in a non-locally coupled lattice using a two-dimensional map to describe neuron activity. The coupling involves all sites in a lattice, the corresponding strength decreasing with the lattice distance in a power-law fashion. We observed bursting synchronization for wide intervals of the coupling parameters. We also investigated the bursting synchronization of the ensemble with an external time-periodic signal applied to one or more selected neurons.     

Adiabatic small noise fluctuations around anticipated synchronization: A perspective from scalar master-slave dynamics

In this paper we extract and highlight some essential ingredients and properties that characterize the phenomenon of anticipated synchronization when external additive noise sources perturb the master and slave dynamics. Our results rely on a minimal scalar setup able to exhibit the more fundamental aspects of this phenomenon, where the fluctuations around the average dynamics are worked out in a small noise and adiabatic approximations allowing to describe their dynamics through linear delay Langevin equations. In this context, we find necessary conditions that guarantee anticipated synchronization in the mean value. Fluctuations around this condition are studied through the stationary correlation of the delayed difference between the master and slave dynamics. It is shown that external noise properties can be inferred by measuring this object. Conditions for minimizing the dynamical fluctuations around the anticipated synchronization in mean value are found. A detailed analysis of the dependence on the characteristic parameters is presented.     

Synchronization of noisy systems by stochastic signals

We study, in terms of synchronization, the nonlinear response of noisy bistable systems to a stochastic external signal, represented by Markovian dichotomic noise. We propose a general kinetic model which allows us to conduct a full analytical study of the nonlinear response, including the calculation of cross-correlation measures, the mean switching frequency, and synchronization regions. Theoretical results are compared with numerical simulations of a noisy overdamped bistable oscillator. We show that dichotomic noise can instantaneously synchronize the switching process of the system. We also show that synchronization is most pronounced at an optimal noise level-this effect connects this phenomenon with aperiodic stochastic resonance. Similar synchronization effects are observed for a stochastic neuron model stimulated by a stochastic spike train.     

储存环自由电子激光相干谐波实验的同步系统

 为了获得短波长自由电子激光(FEL),可以使储存环中的相对论性电子与外加强激光脉冲在光学速调管中充分耦合,从而产生高次谐波的相干辐射。为使耦合充分,必须使电子束团与激光脉冲在时间和空间上完全同步。其中空间上的同步可通过调节外激光的光路来实现,给出了实现时间上同步的一种方案。     

Noise-induced phase synchronization and synchronization transitions in chaotic oscillators

Whether common noise can induce complete synchronization in chaotic systems has been a topic of great relevance and long-standing controversy. We first clarify the mechanism of this phenomenon and show that the existence of a significant contraction region, where nearby trajectories converge, plays a decisive role. Second, we demonstrate that, more generally, common noise can induce phase synchronization in nonidentical chaotic systems. Such a noise-induced synchronization and synchronization transitions are of special significance for understanding neuron encoding in neurobiology.     

Spatially synchronous extinction of species under external forcing

More than 99% of the species that ever existed on the surface of the Earth are now extinct and their extinction on a global scale has been a puzzle. One may think that a species under an external threat may survive in some isolated locations leading to the revival of the species. Using a general model we show that, under a common external forcing, the species with a quadratic saturation term first undergoes spatial synchronization and then extinction. The effect can be observed even when the external forcing acts only on some locations provided the dynamics contains a synchronizing term. Absence of the quadratic saturation term can help the species to avoid extinction.     

Modeling and dynamics of double Hindmarsh-Rose neuron with memristor-based magnetic coupling and time delay

The firing of a neuron model is mainly affected by the following factors:the magnetic field, external forcing current, time delay, etc. In this paper, a new time-delayed electromagnetic field coupled dual Hindmarsh-Rose neuron network model is constructed. A magnetically controlled threshold memristor is improved to represent the self-connected and the coupled magnetic fields triggered by the dynamic change of neuronal membrane potential for the adjacent neurons. Numerical simulation confirms that the coupled magnetic field can activate resting neurons to generate rich firing patterns, such as spiking firings, bursting firings, and chaotic firings, and enable neurons to generate larger firing amplitudes. The study also found that the strength of magnetic coupling in the neural network also affects the number of peaks in the discharge of bursting firing. Based on the existing medical treatment background of mental illness, the effects of time lag in the coupling process against neuron firing are studied. The results confirm that the neurons can respond well to external stimuli and coupled magnetic field with appropriate time delay, and keep periodic firing under a wide range of external forcing current.     

Collective effects induced by diversity in extended systems

We show that diversity, in the form of quenched noise, can have a constructive effect in the dynamics of extended systems. We first consider a bistable φ⁴ model composed by many coupled units and show that the global response to an external periodic forcing is enhanced under the presence of the right amount of diversity (measured as the dispersion in one of the parameters defining the model). As a second example, we consider a system of active-rotators and show that while they are at rest in the homogeneous case, the disorder introduced by the diversity suffices to trigger the appearance of common firings or pulses. Both effects require very simple ingredients and we expect the results presented here to be of interest in similar models.     

Synchronization of spatiotemporal chemical chaos using random signals

We report the synchronization of two uncoupled spatially extended chemical systems by superimposing identical external random signals to both of them. In one spatial dimension, under appropriate parameter conditions the model systems exhibits a transition to turbulence via backfiring of pulses. Implementing the non-vanishing random signal control to the underlying partial differential equations, synchronization is achieved not only for identical systems, but also for systems operating under unequal parameter values exhibiting a different dynamical behavior (generalized synchronization). Finally, synchronization is also achieved under the influence of a random signal superimposed globally, thus making it relevant to experimental situations.     

Conditions for common-noise-induced synchronization in time-delay systems

We studied synchronization induced by a common external noise in scalar time-delay systems. We have found a set of sufficient conditions for the synchronization. This set of conditions shows that the synchronization occurs in a wide class of time-delay systems. Numerical evidence for the analytically obtained conditions is also presented.