Sparse repulsive coupling enhances synchronization in complex networks

TL;DR

Introducing a small fraction of phase-repulsive couplings in small-world networks significantly improves synchronization among non-identical neurons, with the enhancement explained through topological analysis.

Contribution

This paper demonstrates that sparse phase-repulsive couplings can enhance synchronization in complex networks, linking structural properties to dynamical behavior without relying on specific models.

Findings

Synchronization is improved by adding tiny fraction of phase-repulsive couplings.

Topological analysis links network structure to synchronization behavior.

Enhancement occurs in networks of non-identical neurons.

Abstract

Through the last years, different strategies to enhance synchronization in complex networks have been proposed. In this Letter, we show that the synchronization in a small-world network of attractively coupled non-identical neurons is strongly improved by adding a tiny fraction of phase-repulsive couplings. By a purely topological analysis that does not depend on the dynamical model, we link the emerging dynamical behavior to the structural properties of the sparsely coupled repulsive network.