Noise-induced Robust Collective Behaviors in a Multicellular System

The effects of an additive noise due to stochastic environmental fluctuations on robust collective behaviors in a population of oscillators with dynamical coupling are investigated. We show that an appropriate noise intensity may induce robust collective behaviors by compensating the coupling inefficiency, reducing the coupling redundance, and eliminating the sensitive dependence on initial conditions. The interplay between the noise and the coupling reduces the large fluctuation on period, thereby enhancing its robustness. The comparison of synchronization probability for two interacting and noninteracting oscillators shows that the noise can play a more active role in synchronizing interacting oscillators than noninteracting oscillators due to the combined influences of the noise and coupling. The constructive roles of the noise are verified with a multicellular system of coupled glycolytic oscillators.