Stability and Hopf bifurcation analysis on a four-neuron BAM neural network with distributed delays

In this paper, a four-neuron BAM neural network with distributed delays is considered, where kernels are chosen as weak kernels. Its dynamics is studied in terms of local stability analysis and Hopf bifurcation analysis. By choosing the average delay as a bifurcation parameter and analyzing the associated characteristic equation, Hopf bifurcation occurs when the bifurcation parameter passes through some exceptive values. The stability of bifurcating periodic solutions and a formula for determining the direction of Hopf bifurcation are determined by applying the normal form theory and the center manifold theorem. Finally, numerical simulation results are given to validate the theorem obtained.