Critical behaviour at the onset of synchronization in a neuronal model

TL;DR

This paper investigates a neuronal population model showing critical behavior and synchronization at transition points, revealing power-law avalanche statistics and their coexistence with partial synchronization in small systems.

Contribution

It introduces a neuronal model demonstrating criticality and synchronization phenomena, highlighting the coexistence of these behaviors at transition points.

Findings

Power-law avalanche statistics at the transition point

Synchronization regions in parameter space

Coexistence of partial synchronization and power-law behavior in small systems

Abstract

The presence of both critical behavior and oscillating patterns in brain dynamics is a very interesting issue. In this paper, we consider a model for a neuron population, where each neuron is modeled by an over-damped rotator. We find that in the space of external parameters, there exist some regions that system shows synchronization. Interestingly, just at the transition point, the avalanche statistics show a power-law behavior. Also, in the case of small systems, the (partially) synchronization and power-law behavior can happen at the same time.