Inhibition causes ceaseless dynamics in networks of excitable nodes.

ABSTRACT: The collective dynamics of a network of excitable nodes changes dramatically when inhibitory nodes are introduced. We consider inhibitory nodes which may be activated just like excitatory nodes but, upon activating, decrease the probability of activation of network neighbors. We show that, although the direct effect of inhibitory nodes is to decrease activity, the collective dynamics becomes self-sustaining. We explain this counterintuitive result by defining and analyzing a "branching function" which may be thought of as an activity-dependent branching ratio. The shape of the branching function implies that, for a range of global coupling parameters, dynamics are self-sustaining. Within the self-sustaining region of parameter space lies a critical line along which dynamics take the form o

SUBMITTER: Larremore DB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4043283 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature