Free-running period of neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus: Its dependence on the distribution of neuronal coupling strengths

Changgui Gu, Jianxiong Wang, Zonghua Liu

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Abstract

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) pacemaker shows a free-running period ranging from 20 to 28 h for different species, which was usually explained from the angle of coupling strength. Based on the assumption of nonidentical coupling strengths in SCN, we find an alternative mechanism that the diversity of free-running period can be also caused by the distribution of coupling strengths. The free-running period is proportional to the average coupling strength and inverse proportional to the dispersion of couplings. Moreover, we present an analytic phase model to confirm our finding, which shows a solid foundation of our finding and opens a window to study the collective behaviors of SCN oscillators.

Original languageEnglish
Article number030904
JournalPhysical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
Volume80
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 30 Sep 2009

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