Automated tuning of bifurcations via feedback

TL;DR

This paper explores a feedback regulation approach for adaptively tuning parameters to induce bifurcations, with applications in biological systems like auditory processing and neural activity maintenance.

Contribution

It introduces a novel feedback regulation method for parameter tuning to achieve bifurcations, addressing a gap in control literature.

Findings

Developed a feedback tuning framework for bifurcations

Applied the method to biological systems like neural integrators

Demonstrated effective parameter adjustment to reach bifurcation points

Abstract

The present paper studies a feedback regulation problem, which may be interpreted as an adaptive control problem, but has not yet been studied in the control literature. The problem, which arises in at least two different biological applications (Hopf bifurcations in the auditory system, and neural integrators used to maintain persistent neural activity), is that of tuning a parameter so as to bring it to a value at which a bifurcation takes place.