Noise-induced synchronization transitions in neuronal network with delayed electrical or chemical coupling

In this paper, we numerically study synaptic noise-induced synchronization transitions in scale-free network of thermo-sensitive neurons with delayed electrical or chemical coupling. It is found that the neurons exhibit synchronization transitions as synaptic noise strength is varied, and the synchronization transitions are enhanced when time delay is proper. For electrical coupling, noise can induce weak synchronization transitions, and the synchronization transitions decrease as network average degree increases; while, for chemical coupling, noise can induce strong synchronization transitions, and the synchronization transitions become strongest when network average degree is optimal. Different mechanisms of linear electrical and nonlinear chemical coupling could be the reason for these differences. These results show that synaptic noise can induce different synchronization transitions in the scale-free neuronal network with electrical or chemical coupling, and hence could play different roles in the information transmission of neural systems. Copyright EDP Sciences, SIF, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014