title: Sisyphus effect in pulse-coupled excitatory neural networks with spike-timing-dependent plasticity.
abstract: The collective dynamics of excitatory pulse-coupled neural networks with spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) is studied. Depending on the model parameters stationary states characterized by high or low synchronization can be observed. In particular, at the transition between these two regimes, persistent irregular low frequency oscillations between strongly and weakly synchronized states are observable, which can be identified as infraslow oscillations with frequencies ≃0.02-0.03 Hz. Their emergence can be explained in terms of the Sisyphus effect, a mechanism caused by a continuous feedback between the evolution of the coherent population activity and of the average synaptic weight. Due to this effect, the synaptic weights have oscillating equilibrium values, which prevents the neuronal population from relaxing into a stationary macroscopic state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Aarhus, Ny Munkegade, Building 1520, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kaare
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mikkelsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Aarhus, Ny Munkegade, Building 1520, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Imparato
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Aarhus, Ny Munkegade, Building 1520, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark and CNR-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-Istituto dei Sistemi Complessi, via Madonna del Piano 10, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy and INFN Sez. Firenze, via Sansone 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torcini
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D025461:Feedback, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D010507:Periodicity; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors