Bursting and Synchronization of Coupled Neurons under Electromagnetic Radiation

Abstract

Bursting is an important firing activity of neurons, which is caused by a slow process that modulates fast spiking activity. Based on the original second-order Morris-Lecar neuron model, an improved third-order Morris-Lecar neuron model can produce bursting activity is proposed, in which the effect of electromagnetic radiation is considered as a slow process and the original equation of Morris-Lecar neuron model as a fast process. Extensive numerical simulation results show that the improved neuron model can produce different types of bursting, and bursting activity shows a deep dependence on system parameters and electromagnetic radiation parameters. In addition, synchronization transitions of identical as well as no-identical coupled third-order Morris-Lecar neurons are studied, the results show that identical coupled neurons experience a complex synchronization process and reach complete synchronization finally with the increase of coupling intensity. For no-identical coupled neurons, only anti-phase synchronization and in-phase synchronization can be reached. The studies of bursting activity of single neuron and synchronization transition of coupled neurons have important guiding significance for further understanding the information processing of neurons and collective behaviors in neuronal network under electromagnetic radiation environment.