Ali Khaledi-Nasab
The Mathematical Biology and Dynamical Systems Seminar presents Ali Khaledi Nasab on “Collective dynamics of random tree networks of excitable elements” on Tuesday, Feb. 6, from 3:05-4 p.m. in 326 Morton Hall.
Khaledi Nasab is a graduate student in Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University.
Abstract: We study collective dynamics of excitable elements coupled on small random tree networks. In our setup, external inputs are coming to leafs and lead to large events (spikes) propagating to the primary branching (central) node. We use a Hodgkin-Huxley type system for nodal elements so that a small tree of such elements models a sensory neuron with branched myelinated dendrites. We show that characteristics of collective dynamics, such as a threshold current for the onset of repetitive spikes, firing rate, and spiking variability can be predicted from the tree topology. In particular, in the strong coupling regime, relevant to low-resistant myelinated connections between nodes, a tree can be replaced by a node with input parameters rescaled according to the number of leafs and the total number of nodes.
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