Asynchronous states in networks of pulse-coupled oscillators

Abstract

We use a mean-field approach to analyze the stability of the asynchronous state in a population of all-to-all, pulse-coupled, nonlinear oscillators. We determine the conditions that must be satisfied by the time constants and phase dependence characterizing the coupling between the oscillators in order for the asynchronous state to be stable. We also consider the effects of noise. This work complements results on synchronous states in similar models and allows us to study the validity of firing-rate models commonly used for neural networks.