Article,
Dynamics of firing patterns, synchronization and resonances in neuronal electrical activities- experiments and analysis
Acta mechanica Sinica, (2008)
Abstract
Recent advances in the experimental and theoretical study of dynamics
of neuronal electrical firing activities are reviewed. Firstly, some
experimental phenomena of neuronal irregular firing patterns, especially
chaotic and stochastic firing patterns, are presented, and practical
nonlinear time analysis methods are introduced to distinguish deterministic
and stochastic mechanism in time series. Secondly, the dynamics of
electrical firing activities in a single neuron is concerned, namely,
fast-slow dynamics analysis for classification and mechanism of various
bursting patterns, one- or two-parameter bifurcation analysis for
transitions of firing patterns, and stochastic dynamics of firing
activities (stochastic and coherence resonances, integer multiple
and other firing patterns induced by noise, etc.). Thirdly, different
types of synchronization of coupled neurons with electrical and chemical
synapses are discussed. As noise and time delay are inevitable in
nervous systems, it is found that noise and time delay may induce
or enhance synchronization and change firing patterns of coupled
neurons. Noise-induced resonance and spatiotemporal patterns in coupled
neuronal networks are also demonstrated. Finally, some prospects
are presented for future research. In consequence, the idea and methods
of nonlinear dynamics are of great significance in exploration of
dynamic processes and physiological functions of nervous systems.
