Synchronization mode transitions induced by chaos in modified Morris–Lecar neural systems with weak coupling

Abstract

Based on a modified Morris–Lecar neural model, the synchronization modes transitions between two coupled neurons or star-coupled neural network connected by weak electrical and chemical coupling are, respectively, investigated. For the two coupled neurons, by increasing the calcium conductivity, it is found that the period-2 synchronization of the action potential is transformed to desynchronization first, and then to period-3 synchronization. By increasing the potassium conductivity, however, the synchronization mode transition is a reversal direction process as mentioned above. The corresponding inter-spike interval shows the synchronization modes transition is induced by the chaos. The stronger the coupling strength is, the smaller the period-2 synchronization region in the parameters plane is, while the larger the period-3 synchronization region will be. For the star-coupled neural network, in the presence of weak electrical coupling, it can exhibit the completely synchronized mode, desynchronized mode, and drum head mode under different parameter values, respectively. In the presence of chemical synapse, however, the completely synchronized mode cannot be observed. Our results might provide novel insights into synchronization modes transition and related biological experiments.