title: Robustness and enhancement of neural synchronization by activity-dependent coupling.
abstract: We study the synchronization of two model neurons coupled through a synapse having an activity-dependent strength. Our synapse follows the rules of spike-timing dependent plasticity. We show that this plasticity of the coupling between neurons produces enlarged frequency-locking zones and results in synchronization that is more rapid and much more robust against noise than classical synchronization arising from connections with constant strength. We also present a simple discrete map model that demonstrates the generality of the phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, MC 103-33, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA. zhigulin@caltech.edu
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Zhigulin
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Rabinovich
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huerta
authors.forename: H D I
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Abarbanel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D016011:Normal Distribution; D013997:Time Factors