Hierarchical modular structure enhances the robustness of self-organized criticality in neural networks

Hierarchical modular structure enhances the robustness of self-organized criticality in neural networks

One of the most prominent architecture properties of neural networks in the brain is the hierarchical modular structure. How does the structure property constrain or improve brain function? It is thought that operating near criticality can be beneficial for brain function. Here, we find that networks with modular structure can extend the parameter region of coupling strength over which critical...

Sustained Activity in Hierarchical Modular Neural Networks: Self-Organized Criticality and Oscillations

Cerebral cortical brain networks possess a number of conspicuous features of structure and dynamics. First, these networks have an intricate, non-random organization. In particular, they are structured in a hierarchical modular fashion, from large-scale regions of the whole brain, via cortical areas and area subcompartments organized as structural and functional maps to cortical columns, and fi...

Self-organized criticality in adaptive neural networks

Analytical investigation of self-organized criticality in neural networks.

Dynamical criticality has been shown to enhance information processing in dynamical systems, and there is evidence for self-organized criticality in neural networks. A plausible mechanism for such self-organization is activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. Here, we model neurons as discrete-state nodes on an adaptive network following stochastic dynamics. At a threshold connectivity, this syst...

Dynamical synapses causing self-organized criticality in neural networks

We show that a network of spiking neurons exhibits robust self-organized criticality if the synaptic efficacies follow realistic dynamics. Deriving analytical expressions for the average coupling strengths and inter-spike intervals, we demonstrate that networks with dynamical synapses exhibit critical avalanche dynamics for a wide range of interaction parameters. We prove that in the thermodyna...