States of Enhanced Activity in a Network of Pulse Coupled Oscillators with Dynamic Coupling

TL;DR

This paper explores how dynamic synaptic couplings in a network of pulse-coupled oscillators lead to states of heightened activity, with implications for understanding epileptic seizures and their similarities to earthquake phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a model of neuronal networks with spike-timing-dependent plasticity and analyzes their activity states, linking them to seizure-like behaviors and earthquake analogies.

Findings

Network exhibits seizure-like activity states.

Dynamic coupling influences activity patterns.

Statistical characteristics resemble earthquake onset patterns.

Abstract

We investigate states of enhanced activity in a biological neuronal network composed of pulse-coupled oscillators. The synaptic couplings between the neurons are dynamic, modeling spike time dependent plasticity. The network exhibits statistical characteristics which recently have been identified in an analysis of epileptic seizures [Osorio et al., Phys. Rev. E 82, 021919(2010)] based on analogies to the onset of earth quakes.