Frequency transitions in synchronized neural networks

Temporal organization of events can emerge in complex systems, like neural networks. Here, random graph and cellular automaton are used to represent coupled neural structures, in order to investigate the occurrence of synchronization. The connectivity pattern of this toy model of neural system is of Newman–Watts type, formed from a regular lattice with additional random connections. Two networks with this coupling topology are connected by extra random links and an impulse stimulus is either constantly or periodically applied to a unique neuron. Numerical simulations reveal that this model can exhibit a variety of dynamic behaviors. Usually, the whole system achieves synchronization; however, the oscillation frequencies of the stimulus and of each network can be different. The dynamics is evaluated in function of the network size, the amount of the randomly added edges and the number of time steps in which a neuron can remain firing. The biological relevance of these results is discussed.