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Updated: May 31, 2026

Analyzing the Size, Shape, and Directionality of Networks of Coupled Astrocytes
Published on: October 4, 2018
Bifurcation mechanisms of regular and chaotic network signaling in brain astrocytes
1Oscillation Theory Department, Nizhny Novgorod State University, 23 Gagarin avenue, 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
Abstract:
Bifurcation mechanisms underlying calcium oscillations in the network of astrocytes are investigated. Network model includes the dynamics of intracellular calcium concentration and intercellular diffusion of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate through gap junctions. Bifurcation analysis of underlying nonlinear dynamical system is presented. Parameter regions and principle bifurcation boundaries have been delineated and described. We show how variations of the diffusion rate can lead to generation of network calcium oscillations in originally nonoscillating cells. Different scenarios of regular activity and its transitions to chaotic dynamics have been obtained. Then, the bifurcations have been associated with statistical characteristics of calcium signals showing that different bifurcation scenarios yield qualitative changes in experimentally measurable quantities of the astrocyte activity, e.g., statistics of calcium spikes.
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