The interplay between diversity and noise in an excitable cell network model

TL;DR

This study investigates how diversity and noise influence the dynamics of a 3D network of excitable cells, revealing their distinct and sometimes synergistic effects on synchronization, with implications for biological cell clusters.

Contribution

It introduces a model of an excitable cell network that distinguishes the roles of diversity and noise, showing their different impacts on network synchronization mechanisms.

Findings

Diversity and noise have different effects on network dynamics.

Synchronization can be independent or synergistic depending on diversity levels.

The model mimics pancreatic beta-cell cluster behavior.

Abstract

We study the interplay between diversity and noise in a 3D network of FitzHugh-Nagumo elements, with topology and dimensions chosen to model a pancreatic beta-cell cluster, as an example of an excitable cell network. Our results show that diversity and noise are not equivalent sources of disorder but have different effects on network dynamics. Their synchronization mechanisms may act independently of one another or synergistically, depending on the mean value of the diversity distribution compared to the intrinsic oscillatory range of the network elements.