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From spikers to bursters via coupling: help from heterogeneity
1Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G1, Canada. devries@math.ualberta.ca
Bulletin of Mathematical Biology
|March 30, 2001
Summary
Identical spiking cells can exhibit bursting when weakly coupled. Introducing parameter heterogeneity restores bursting in strongly coupled systems, a phenomenon observed in pancreatic beta cells.
Area of Science:
- Computational Neuroscience
- Mathematical Biology
- Systems Biology
Background:
- Identical spiking cells, individually incapable of bursting, can exhibit bursting behavior when coupled.
- This emergent bursting phenomenon is sensitive to coupling strength and parameter heterogeneity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms underlying emergent bursting in coupled spiking cells.
- To analyze the role of heterogeneity in modulating bursting behavior under varying coupling conditions.
- To explore the implications for electrical activity in pancreatic beta cells.
Main Methods:
- Bifurcation analysis for two-cell systems.
- Numerical simulations for larger clusters of coupled cells.
- Perturbation analysis to link heterogeneity parameters.
Main Results:
- Weak diffusive coupling can induce bursting in identical spiking cells.
- Increased coupling strength initially suppresses bursting, but heterogeneity can restore it.
- The phenomenon of emergent bursting is robust across different system sizes.
- A perturbation analysis quantitatively relates system-level heterogeneity to individual cell parameters and coupling strength.
Conclusions:
- Emergent bursting is a complex phenomenon influenced by both coupling and heterogeneity.
- Heterogeneity plays a crucial role in restoring bursting activity in strongly coupled systems.
- These findings offer insights into the regulation of electrical activity and insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells.