Noise-induced cooperative dynamics and its control in coupled neuron models

Abstract

We investigate feedback control of the cooperative dynamics of two coupled neural oscillators that is induced merely by external noise. The interacting neurons are modeled as FitzHugh-Nagumo systems with parameter values at which no autonomous oscillations occur, and each unit is forced by its own source of random fluctuations. Application of delayed feedback to only one of two subsystems is shown to be able to change coherence and time scales of noise-induced oscillations either in the given subsystem, or globally. It is also able to induce or to suppress stochastic synchronization under certain conditions.