Transient localized patterns in noise-driven reaction-diffusion systems.
Noise can induce excitable systems to make time-limited transitions between quiescent and active states. Here we investigate the possibility that these transitions occur locally in a spatially extended medium, leading to the occurrence of spatiotemporal patches of activation. We show that this can in fact occur in a parameter range such that there exist (in general unstable) localized solutions of the governing deterministic reaction-diffusion equations. Our work is motivated by a recent biological example showing transiently excited cell membrane regions.
Hecht
Inbal
I
Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0319, USA.
Kessler
David A
DA
Levine
Herbert
H
D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000494:pharmacology; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004058:Diffusion; D007700:Kinetics; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013997:Time Factors
D000242:Cyclic AMP