Blinking coupling enhances network synchronization

Patterns of neuronal synchrony in higher-order networks

Synchrony in neuronal networks is crucial for cognitive functions, motor coordination, and various neurological disorders. While traditional research has focused on pairwise interactions between neurons, recent studies highlight the importance of higher-order interactions involving multiple neurons. Both types of interactions lead to complex synchronous spatiotemporal patterns, including the fascinating phenomenon of chimera states, where synchronized and desynchronized neuronal activity coexist. These patterns are thought to resemble pathological states such as schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease, and their emergence is influenced by neuronal dynamics as well as by synaptic connections and network structure. This review integrates the current understanding of how pairwise and higher-order interactions contribute to different synchrony patterns in neuronal networks, providing a comprehensive overview of their role in shaping network dynamics. We explore a broad range of connectivity mechanisms that drive diverse neuronal synchrony patterns, from pairwise long-range temporal interactions and time-delayed coupling to adaptive communication and higher-order, time-varying connections. We cover key neuronal models, including the Hindmarsh-Rose model, the stochastic Hodgkin-Huxley model, the Sherman model, and the photosensitive FitzHugh-Nagumo model. By investigating the emergence and stability of various synchronous states, this review highlights their significance in neurological systems and indicates directions for future research in this rapidly evolving field.

Collective behavior of an adapting synapse-based neuronal network with memristive effect and randomness

This study delves into the examination of a network of adaptive synapse neurons characterized by a small-world network topology connected through electromagnetic flux and infused with randomness. First, this research extensively explores the existence of the global multi-stability of a single adaptive synapse-based neuron model with magnetic flux. The non-autonomous neuron model exhibits periodically switchable equilibrium states that are strongly related to the transitions between stable and unstable points in every whole periodic cycle, leading to the creation of global multi-stability. Various numerical measures, including bifurcation plots, phase plots, and basin of attraction, illustrate the intricate dynamics of diverse coexisting global firing activities. Moreover, the model is extended by coupling two neurons with a memristive synapse. The dynamics of the coupled neurons model are showcased with the help of largest Lyapunov exponents, and synchronized dynamics are viewed with the help of mean average error. Next, we consider a regular network of neurons connected to their nearest neighbors through the memristive synapse. We then reconstruct it into a small-world network by increasing the randomness in the rewiring links. Consequently, we observed collective behavior influenced by the number of neighborhood connections, coupling strength, and rewiring probability. We used spatio-temporal patterns, recurrence plots, as well as global-order parameters to verify the reported results.

Fiedler value: The cumulated dynamical contribution value of all edges in a complex network

Fiedler value, as the minimal real part of (or the minimal) nonzero Laplacian eigenvalue, garners significant attention as a metric for evaluating network topology and its dynamics. In this paper, we address the quantification relation between Fiedler value and each edge in a directed complex network, considering undirected networks as a special case. We propose an approach to measure the dynamical contribution value of each edge. Interestingly, these contribution values can be both positive and negative, which are determined by the left and right Fiedler vectors. Further, we show that the cumulated dynamical contribution value of all edges is exactly the Fiedler value. This provides a promising angle on the Fiedler value in terms of dynamics and network structure. Therefore, the percentage of contribution of each edge to the Fiedler value is quantified. Numerical results reveal that network dynamics is significantly influenced by a small fraction of edges, say, one single directed edge contributes to over 90% of the Fiedler value in the Cat Cerebral Cortex network.

Synchronization enhancement subjected to adaptive blinking coupling

Synchronization holds a significant role, notably within chaotic systems, in various contexts where the coordinated behavior of systems plays a pivotal and indispensable role. Hence, many studies have been dedicated to investigating the underlying mechanism of synchronization of chaotic systems. Networks with time-varying coupling, particularly those with blinking coupling, have been proven essential. The reason is that such coupling schemes introduce dynamic variations that enhance adaptability and robustness, making them applicable in various real-world scenarios. This paper introduces a novel adaptive blinking coupling, wherein the coupling adapts dynamically based on the most influential variable exhibiting the most significant average disparity. To ensure an equitable selection of the most effective coupling at each time instance, the average difference of each variable is normalized to the synchronous solution's range. Due to this adaptive coupling selection, synchronization enhancement is expected to be observed. This hypothesis is assessed within networks of identical systems, encompassing Lorenz, Rössler, Chen, Hindmarsh-Rose, forced Duffing, and forced van der Pol systems. The results demonstrated a substantial improvement in synchronization when employing adaptive blinking coupling, particularly when applying the normalization process.

Synchronous behaviors of three coupled liquid crystal elastomer-based spring oscillators under linear temperature fields

Self-oscillating coupled systems possess the ability to actively absorb external environmental energy to sustain their motion. This quality endows them with autonomy and sustainability, making them have application value in the fields of synchronization and clustering, thereby furthering research and exploration in these domains. Building upon the foundation of thermal responsive liquid crystal elastomer-based (LCE-based) spring oscillators, a synchronous system comprising three LCE-based spring oscillators interconnected by springs is established. In this paper, the synchronization phenomenon is described, and the self-oscillation mechanism is revealed. The results indicate that by varying system parameters and initial conditions, three synchronization patterns emerge, namely, full synchronous mode, partial synchronous mode, and asynchronous mode. For strongly interacting systems, full synchronous mode always prevails, while for weak interactions, the adjustment of initial velocities in magnitude and direction yields the three synchronization patterns. Additionally, this study explores the impact of several system parameters, including LCE elasticity coefficient and spring elasticity coefficient, on the amplitude, frequency, and synchronous mode of the system. The findings in this paper can enhance our understanding of the synchronization behavior of multiple mutually coupled LCE-based spring oscillators, with promising applications in energy harvesting, soft robotics, signal monitoring, and various other fields.

Saturation function-based continuous control on fixed-time synchronization of competitive neural networks

Currently, through proposing discontinuous control strategies with the signum function and discussing separately short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM) of competitive artificial neural networks (ANNs), the fixed-time (FXT) synchronization of competitive ANNs has been explored. Note that the method of separate analysis usually leads to complicated theoretical derivation and synchronization conditions, and the signum function inevitably causes the chattering to reduce the performance of the control schemes. To try to solve these challenging problems, the FXT synchronization issue is concerned in this paper for competitive ANNs by establishing a theorem of FXT stability with switching type and developing continuous control schemes based on a kind of saturation functions. Firstly, different from the traditional method of studying separately STM and LTM of competitive ANNs, the models of STM and LTM are compressed into a high-dimensional system so as to reduce the complexity of theoretical analysis. Additionally, as an important theoretical preliminary, a FXT stability theorem with switching differential conditions is established and some high-precision estimates for the convergence time are explicitly presented by means of several special functions. To achieve FXT synchronization of the addressed competitive ANNs, a type of continuous pure power-law control scheme is developed via introducing the saturation function instead of the signum function, and some synchronization criteria are further derived by the established FXT stability theorem. These theoretical results are further illustrated lastly via a numerical example and are applied to image encryption.

Multistable ghost attractors in a switching laser system

This paper studies the effects of a switching parameter on the dynamics of a multistable laser model. The laser model represents multistability in distinct ranges of parameters. We assume that the system's parameter switches periodically between different values. Since the system is multistable, the presence of a ghost attractor is also dependent on the initial condition. It is shown that when the composing subsystems are chaotic, a periodic ghost attractor can emerge and vice versa, depending on the initial conditions. In contrast to the previous studies in which the attractor of the fast blinking systems approximates the average attractor, here, the blinking attractor differs from the average in some cases. It is shown that when the switching parameter values are distant from their average, the blinking and the average attractors are different, and as they approach, the blinking attractor approaches the average attractor too.

An advanced approach for the electrical responses of discrete fractional-order biophysical neural network models and their dynamical responses

The multiple activities of neurons frequently generate several spiking-bursting variations observed within the neurological mechanism. We show that a discrete fractional-order activated nerve cell framework incorporating a Caputo-type fractional difference operator can be used to investigate the impacts of complex interactions on the surge-empowering capabilities noticed within our findings. The relevance of this expansion is based on the model's structure as well as the commensurate and incommensurate fractional-orders, which take kernel and inherited characteristics into account. We begin by providing data regarding the fluctuations in electronic operations using the fractional exponent. We investigate two-dimensional Morris-Lecar neuronal cell frameworks via spiked and saturated attributes, as well as mixed-mode oscillations and mixed-mode bursting oscillations of a decoupled fractional-order neuronal cell. The investigation proceeds by using a three-dimensional slow-fast Morris-Lecar simulation within the fractional context. The proposed method determines a method for describing multiple parallels within fractional and integer-order behaviour. We examine distinctive attribute environments where inactive status develops in detached neural networks using stability and bifurcation assessment. We demonstrate features that are in accordance with the analysis's findings. The Erdös-Rényi connection of asynchronization transformed neural networks (periodic and actionable) is subsequently assembled and paired via membranes that are under pressure. It is capable of generating multifaceted launching processes in which dormant neural networks begin to come under scrutiny. Additionally, we demonstrated that boosting connections can cause classification synchronization, allowing network devices to activate in conjunction in the future. We construct a reduced-order simulation constructed around clustering synchronisation that may represent the operations that comprise the whole system. Our findings indicate the influence of fractional-order is dependent on connections between neurons and the system's stored evidence. Moreover, the processes capture the consequences of fractional derivatives on surge regularity modification and enhance delays that happen across numerous time frames in neural processing.

Synchronization of Complex Dynamical Networks with Stochastic Links Dynamics

The mean square synchronization problem of the complex dynamical network (CDN) with the stochastic link dynamics is investigated. In contrast to previous literature, the CDN considered in this paper can be viewed as consisting of two subsystems coupled to each other. One subsystem consists of all nodes, referred to as the nodes subsystem, and the other consists of all links, referred to as the network topology subsystem, where the weighted values can quantitatively reflect changes in the network's topology. Based on the above understanding of CDN, two vector stochastic differential equations with Brownian motion are used to model the dynamic behaviors of nodes and links, respectively. The control strategy incorporates not only the controller in the nodes but also the coupling term in the links, through which the CDN is synchronized in the mean-square sense. Meanwhile, the dynamic stochastic signal is proposed in this paper, which is regarded as the auxiliary reference tracking target of links, such that the links can track the reference target asymptotically when synchronization occurs in nodes. This implies that the eventual topological structure of CDN is stochastic. Finally, a comparison simulation example confirms the superiority of the control strategy in this paper.

Adaptive pinning cluster synchronization of a stochastic reaction-diffusion complex network

This work aims to achieve cluster synchronization of a complex network by some pinning control strategies. Firstly, the network not only is affected by the reaction-diffusion and the directed coupling phenomena, but also is disturbed by the stochastic noise and Markovian switching. Secondly, switched constant gain pinning, centralized and decentralized adaptive pinning are proposed respectively to realize the cluster synchronization of the considered network. In these adaptive pinning controllers, the control gain and coupling strength can been adjusted automatically while only a part of the nodes are controlled. Thirdly, the target state of cluster synchronization is taken as the average state related to the directed topology of all nodes in the same cluster, and does not need to be given separately as an isolated node. Finally, to verify the theoretical results, some simulations of directed coupled reaction-diffusion neural networks with stochastic noise and Markovian switching are given.

Heat-Driven Synchronization in Coupled Liquid Crystal Elastomer Spring Self-Oscillators

Self-oscillating coupled machines are capable of absorbing energy from the external environment to maintain their own motion and have the advantages of autonomy and portability, which also contribute to the exploration of the field of synchronization and clustering. Based on a thermally responsive liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) spring self-oscillator in a linear temperature field, this paper constructs a coupling and synchronization model of two self-oscillators connected by springs. Based on the existing dynamic LCE model, this paper theoretically reveals the self-oscillation mechanism and synchronization mechanism of two self-oscillators. The results show that adjusting the initial conditions and system parameters causes the coupled system to exhibit two synchronization modes: in-phase mode and anti-phase mode. The work conducted by the driving force compensates for the damping dissipation of the system, thus maintaining self-oscillation. The phase diagrams of different system parameters are drawn to illuminate the self-oscillation and synchronization mechanism. For weak interaction, changing the initial conditions may obtain the modes of in-phase and anti-phase. Under conditions of strong interactions, the system consistently exhibits an in-phase mode. Furthermore, an investigation is conducted on the influence of system parameters, such as the LCE elastic coefficient and spring elastic coefficient, on the amplitudes and frequencies of the two synchronization modes. This study aims to enhance the understanding of self-oscillator synchronization and its potential applications in areas such as energy harvesting, power generation, detection, soft robotics, medical devices and micro/nanodevices.

Perfect synchronization in complex networks with higher-order interactions

Achieving perfect synchronization in a complex network, specially in the presence of higher-order interactions (HOIs) at a targeted point in the parameter space, is an interesting, yet challenging task. Here we present a theoretical framework to achieve the same under the paradigm of the Sakaguchi-Kuramoto (SK) model. We analytically derive a frequency set to achieve perfect synchrony at some desired point in a complex network of SK oscillators with higher-order interactions. Considering the SK model with HOIs on top of the scale-free, random, and small world networks, we perform extensive numerical simulations to verify the proposed theory. Numerical simulations show that the analytically derived frequency set not only provides stable perfect synchronization in the network at a desired point but also proves to be very effective in achieving a high level of synchronization around it compared to the other choices of frequency sets. The stability and the robustness of the perfect synchronization state of the system are determined using the low-dimensional reduction of the network and by introducing a Gaussian noise around the derived frequency set, respectively.

Preassigned-time projective synchronization of delayed fully quaternion-valued discontinuous neural networks with parameter uncertainties

This paper concerns with the preassigned-time projective synchronization issue for delayed fully quaternion-valued discontinuous neural networks involving parameter uncertainties through the non-separation method. Above all, based on the existing works, a new preassigned-time stability theorem is established. Subsequently, to realize the control goals, two types of novel and simple chattering-free quaternion controllers are designed, one without the power-law term and the other with a hyperbolic-tangent function. They are different from the existing common power-law controller and exponential controller. Thirdly, under the Filippov discontinuity theories and with the aid of quaternion inequality techniques, some novel succinct sufficient criteria are obtained to ensure the addressed systems to achieve the preassigned-time synchronization by using the preassigned-time stability theory. The preassigned settling time is free from any parameter and any initial value of the system, and can be preset according to the actual task demands. Particularly, unlike the existing results, the proposed control methods can effectively avoid the chattering phenomenon, and the time delay part is removed for simplicity. Additionally, the projection coefficient is generic quaternion-valued instead of real-valued or complex-valued, and some of the previous relevant results are extended. Lastly, numerical simulations are reported to substantiate the effectiveness of the control strategies, the merits of preassigned settling time, and the correctness of the acquired results.

Impact of external excitations on blinking enhanced synchronization in bistable vibrational energy harvesters

Vibrational energy harvesters are capable of converting low-frequency broad-band mechanical energy into electrical power and can be used in implantable medical devices and wireless sensors. With the use of such energy harvesters, it is feasible to generate continuous power that is more reliable and cost-effective. According to previous findings, the energy harvester can offer rich complex dynamics, one of which is obtaining the synchronization behavior, which is intriguing to achieve desirable power from energy harvesters. Therefore, we consider bistable energy harvesters with periodic and quasiperiodic excitations to investigate synchronization. Specifically, we introduce blinking into the coupling function to check whether it improves the synchronization. Interestingly, we discover that raising the normalized proportion of blinking can initiate synchronization behaviors even with lower optimal coupling strength than the absence of blinking in the coupling (i.e., continuous coupling). The existence of synchronization behaviors is confirmed by finding the largest Lyapunov exponents. In addition, the results show that the optimal coupling strength needed to achieve synchronization for quasiperiodic excitations is smaller than that for periodic excitations.

Extreme multistability and phase synchronization in a heterogeneous bi-neuron Rulkov network with memristive electromagnetic induction

Memristive electromagnetic induction effect has been widely explored in bi-neuron network with homogeneous neurons, but rarely in bi-neuron network with heterogeneous ones. This paper builds a bi-neuron network by coupling heterogeneous Rulkov neurons with memristor and investigates the memristive electromagnetic induction effect. Theoretical analysis discloses that the bi-neuron network possesses a line equilibrium state and its stability depends on the memristor coupling strength and initial condition. That is, the stability of the line equilibrium state has a transition between unstable saddle-focus and stable node-focus via Hopf bifurcation. By employing parameters located in the stable node-focus region, dynamical behaviors related to the memristor coupling strength and initial conditions are revealed by Julia- and MATLAB-based multiple numerical tools. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed heterogeneous bi-neuron Rulkov network can generate point attractor, period, chaos, chaos crisis, and period-doubling bifurcation. Note that extreme multistability are disclosed with respect to initial conditions of memristor and gated ion concentration. Coexisting infinitely multiple firing patterns of periodic firing patterns with different periodicities and chaotic firing patterns for different memristor initial conditions are demonstrated by phase portrait and time-domain waveform. Besides, the phase synchronization related to the memristor coupling strength and its initial condition is explored, which suggests that the two heterogeneous neurons become phase synchronization with large memristor coupling strength and initial condition. This also reflects that the plasticity of memristor synapse enables adaptive regulation in keeping energy balance between the neurons. What's more, MCU-based hardware experiments are executed to further confirm the numerical simulations.

An optimization-based algorithm for obtaining an optimal synchronizable network after link addition or reduction

Achieving a network structure with optimal synchronization is essential in many applications. This paper proposes an optimization algorithm for constructing a network with optimal synchronization. The introduced algorithm is based on the eigenvalues of the connectivity matrix. The performance of the proposed algorithm is compared with random link addition and a method based on the eigenvector centrality. It is shown that the proposed algorithm has a better synchronization ability than the other methods and also the scale-free and small-world networks with the same number of nodes and links. The proposed algorithm can also be applied for link reduction while less disturbing its synchronization. The effectiveness of the algorithm is compared with four other link reduction methods. The results represent that the proposed algorithm is the most appropriate method for preserving synchronization.

Optimal time-varying coupling function can enhance synchronization in complex networks

In this paper, we propose a time-varying coupling function that results in enhanced synchronization in complex networks of oscillators. The stability of synchronization can be analyzed by applying the master stability approach, which considers the largest Lyapunov exponent of the linearized variational equations as a function of the network eigenvalues as the master stability function. Here, it is assumed that the oscillators have diffusive single-variable coupling. All possible single-variable couplings are studied for each time interval, and the one with the smallest local Lyapunov exponent is selected. The obtained coupling function leads to a decrease in the critical coupling parameter, resulting in enhanced synchronization. Moreover, synchronization is achieved faster, and its robustness is increased. For illustration, the optimum coupling function is found for three networks of chaotic Rössler, Chen, and Chua systems, revealing enhanced synchronization.

Fixed/prescribed-time synchronization of BAM memristive neural networks with time-varying delays via convex analysis

The synchronization problem of bidirectional associative memory memristive neural networks (BAMMNNs) with time-varying delays plays an essential role in the implementation and application of neural networks. Firstly, under the framework of the Filippov's solution, the discontinuous parameters of the state-dependent switching are transformed by convex analysis method, which is different from most previous approaches. Secondly, based on Lyapunov function and some inequality techniques, several conditions for the fixed-time synchronization (FXTS) of the drive-response systems are obtained by designing special control strategies. Moreover, the settling time (ST) is estimated by the improved fixed-time stability lemma. Thirdly, the driven-response BAMMNNs are investigated to be synchronized within a prescribed time by designing new controllers based on the FXTS results, where ST is irrelevant to the initial values of BAMMNNs and the parameters of controllers. Finally, a numerical simulation is exhibited to verify the correctness of the conclusions.

Predefined-time synchronization of coupled neural networks with switching parameters and disturbed by Brownian motion

This article focuses on predefined time synchronization problem for a class of signal switching neural networks with time-varying delays. In the network models, we not only consider the coupling characteristics in the following networks, but also consider the disturbance with standard Brownian motion. In the design of the controller, the control gain is designed as 1ɛ+T_p-t (t∈[T₀,T_p), ɛ is an optional smaller positive number), which avoids the infinite gain (the control gain is designed as 1T_p-t in other reference). In order to get the predefined time control law, a power function is multiplied to the Lyapunov functional, from which it can get an exponential upper bound function via the derivative and mathematical expectation operation. Utilizing the martingale theory and the method of Laplace matrix, some novel predefined time synchronization criteria are obtained for the leader-following neural networks, meanwhile the following networks can maintain the leader network after achieved synchronization. Based on the special network of the main system, five corollaries separately develop the predefined time synchronization results from different perspectives. An example with some simulation figures and computing results fully exhibits the effectiveness of the achieved synchronization scheme. In this case, although the error signal is disturbed by Brownian motion, the trace signal can still stably converge to zero by this control scheme, meanwhile the predefined-time control effect is achieved.

Non-fragile output-feedback synchronization for delayed discrete-time complex-valued neural networks with randomly occurring uncertainties

This paper is step forward to establish an exponential synchronization criterion for discrete-time complex-valued neural networks (CVNNs) having time-varying delays subject to randomly occurring uncertain weighting parameters, in order to overcome the fluctuation when the output-feedback controller imposes on its dynamics. To achieve this, Jensen's weighted summation inequalities (WSIs) and an extended reciprocal convex matrix inequality (ERCMI) are extended into the domain of complex field. By introducing some augmented vectors, a Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional (LKF) is constructed to attain an improved delay-dependent linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) constraint for the exponential synchronization phenomenon of the desired master-slave neuronal system model. For instance, the upper bound of the quadratic summation terms occurred in the finite difference of the LKF have been obtained from its linearization that has been made by the developed complex-valued WSIs and complex-valued ERCMI. The proposed results are less restrictive with the minimum number of decision variables than those obtained using existing inequalities. The designed output-feedback control gain has been determined by solving a set of complex-valued LMIs and it has been enforced with a prescribed exponential decay rate. Finally, in sight of MATLAB software, the established results have been examined via a numerical example supported by the simulation results.

Synchronization in repulsively coupled oscillators

A long-standing expectation is that two repulsively coupled oscillators tend to oscillate in opposite directions. It has been difficult to achieve complete synchrony in coupled identical oscillators with purely repulsive coupling. Here, we introduce a general coupling condition based on the linear matrix of dynamical systems for the emergence of the complete synchronization in pure repulsively coupled oscillators. The proposed coupling profiles (coupling matrices) define a bidirectional cross-coupling link that plays the role of indicator for the onset of complete synchrony between identical oscillators. We illustrate the proposed coupling scheme on several paradigmatic two-coupled chaotic oscillators and validate its effectiveness through the linear stability analysis of the synchronous solution based on the master stability function approach. We further demonstrate that the proposed general condition for the selection of coupling profiles to achieve synchronization even works perfectly for a large ensemble of oscillators.