Hubs, diversity, and synchronization in FitzHugh-Nagumo oscillator networks: Resonance effects and biophysical implications

TL;DR

This paper models beta-cell electrical activity using FitzHugh-Nagumo oscillators to explore how network diversity influences hub formation, resonance effects, and functional adaptability in biological oscillatory systems.

Contribution

It introduces a coupled oscillator network model that links population diversity to the emergence of pacemaker hubs and predicts optimal hub ratios based on resonance effects.

Findings

Optimal hub to non-hub ratio aligns with experimental data

Hubs can switch pacemaker functions on and off

Network diversity enhances oscillatory performance under environmental changes

Abstract

Using the FitzHugh-Nagumo equations to represent the oscillatory electrical behavior of beta-cells, we develop a coupled oscillator network model with cubic lattice topology, showing that the emergence of pacemakers or hubs in the system can be viewed as a natural consequence of oscillator population diversity. The optimal hub to non hub ratio is determined by the position of the diversity-induced resonance maximum for a given set of FitzHugh-Nagumo equation parameters and is predicted by the model to be in a range that is fully consistent with experimental observations. The model also suggests that hubs in a beta-cell network should have the ability to "switch on" and "off" their pacemaker function. As a consequence, their relative amount in the population can vary in order to ensure an optimal oscillatory performance of the network in response to environmental changes, such as variations of an external stimulus.