Noise-induced synchronization in bidirectionally coupled type-I neurons

N. Malik¹, B. Ashok² and J. Balakrishnan³

¹ Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Telegrafenberg, 14412 Potsdam, Germany
² Advanced Centre for Research in High Energy Materials (ACRHEM), University of Hyderabad, Central University PO, Gachi Bowli, Hyderabad - 500 046, India
³ School of Physics, University of Hyderabad, Central University PO, Gachi Bowli, Hyderabad - 500 046, India

Corresponding authors: janaki05@gmail.com - jbsp@uohyd.ernet.in

Received: 4 June 2009
Revised: 22 November 2009

Abstract

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.