Burst synchronization transitions in a neuronal network of subnetworks

Abstract

In this paper, the transitions of burst synchronization are explored in a neuronal network consisting of subnetworks. The studied network is composed of electrically coupled bursting Hindmarsh-Rose neurons. Numerical results show that two types of burst synchronization transitions can be induced not only by the variations of intra- and intercoupling strengths but also by changing the probability of random links between different subnetworks and the number of subnetworks. Furthermore, we find that the underlying mechanisms for these two bursting synchronization transitions are different: one is due to the change of spike numbers per burst, while the other is caused by the change of the bursting type. Considering that changes in the coupling strengths and neuronal connections are closely interlaced with brain plasticity, the presented results could have important implications for the role of the brain plasticity in some functional behavior that are associated with synchronization.

Dynamics of in-phase and anti-phase bursting in the coupled pre-Bötzinger complex cells

“…Firing patterns in the excitatory synaptic coupled preBötC neurons exhibit in-phase and anti-phase bursting (or spiking) under different initial conditions (Sun et al 2011). When the initial conditions for two-coupled neurons are same, the system will exhibit in-phase bursting.…”

“…Smith et al further investigated the frequency control and synchronization of these model neurons when coupled by excitatory synapses, simulations of pairs of identical cells revealed that increasing tonic excitation increases the frequency of synchronous bursting (Butera et al 1999b). Bursting and complex synchronous behaviors are important aspects in the study of rhythm dynamics of complex neuronal system (Wang et al 2011;Guo et al 2012;Sun et al 2011;Perc and Marhl 2004a, b).…”

Autaptic Modulation of Electrical Activity in a Network of Neuron-Coupled Astrocyte

“…Based on the wellknown neuron models, networks with different topological connections have been set to investigate the synchronization stability [36,37], pattern selection, and mode transition in collective behaviors [38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45]. Indeed, reliable and biophysical neuron model is critical and important for further investigation on neurodynamics and potential mechanism of some neuronal diseases [46].…”

Bursting synchronization dynamics of pancreatic β-cells with electrical and chemical coupling

“…Synchronization, as an emerging phenomenon of a population of dynamically interacting units (Arenas et al 2008;Wang and Jiao 2006;Wang and Zhang 2003;Zhang et al 2010), has been extensively studied both in coupled cells (Wang et al 2011;Marek and Stuchl 1975) or complex networks (Gomez-Gardenes et al 2007;Volman et al 2011;Sun et al 2011). It has been demonstrated that the electrical activity of two electrically coupled b-cells can exhibit different forms of synchronous activities, both in vivo (Valdeolmillos et al 1996) and in vitro (Eddlestone et al 1984).…”