Phase resetting of collective rhythm in ensembles of oscillators

Abstract

Phase resetting curves characterize the way a system with a collective periodic behavior responds to perturbations. We consider globally coupled ensembles of Sakaguchi-Kuramoto oscillators, and use the Ott-Antonsen theory of ensemble evolution to derive the analytical phase resetting equations. We show the final phase reset value to be composed of two parts: an immediate phase reset directly caused by the perturbation and the dynamical phase reset resulting from the relaxation of the perturbed system back to its dynamical equilibrium. Analytical, semianalytical and numerical approximations of the final phase resetting curve are constructed. We support our findings with extensive numerical evidence involving identical and nonidentical oscillators. The validity of our theory is discussed in the context of large ensembles approximating the thermodynamic limit.