Chimera states in networks of nonlocally coupled Hindmarsh-Rose neuron models

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the existence of chimera states in networks of Hindmarsh-Rose neuron models, highlighting their potential relevance in neuroscience and revealing new types of mixed oscillatory states.

Contribution

It is the first to show chimera states in coupled bistable neurons and identifies mixed oscillatory states, expanding understanding of neuronal network dynamics.

Findings

Chimera states occur in Hindmarsh-Rose neuron networks.

Chimeras are verified in coupled bistable elements.

Discovery of mixed oscillatory states with interspersed desynchronized neurons.

Abstract

We have identified the occurrence of chimera states for various coupling schemes in networks of two-dimensional and three-dimensional Hindmarsh-Rose oscillators, which represent realistic models of neuronal ensembles. This result, together with recent studies on multiple chimera states in nonlocally coupled FitzHugh-Nagumo oscillators, provide strong evidence that the phenomenon of chimeras may indeed be relevant in neuroscience applications. Moreover, our work verifies the existence of chimera states in coupled bistable elements, whereas to date chimeras were known to arise in models possessing a single stable limit cycle. Finally, we have identified an interesting class of mixed oscillatory states, in which desynchronized neurons are uniformly interspersed among the remaining ones that are either stationary or oscillate in synchronized motion.