Zero‐Hopf bifurcation in the FitzHugh–Nagumo system

We characterize the values of the parameters for which a zero‐Hopf equilibrium point takes place at the singular points, namely, O (the origin), P₊, and P_? in the FitzHugh–Nagumo system. We find two two‐parameter families of the FitzHugh–Nagumo system for which the equilibrium point at the origin is a zero‐Hopf equilibrium. For these two families, we prove the existence of a periodic orbit bifurcating from the zero‐Hopf equilibrium point O. We prove that there exist three two‐parameter families of the FitzHugh–Nagumo system for which the equilibrium point at P₊ and at P_? is a zero‐Hopf equilibrium point. For one of these families, we prove the existence of one, two, or three periodic orbits starting at P₊ and P_?. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.