Synchronization of uncoupled excitable systems induced by white and coloured noise

We study, both numerically and experimentally, the synchronization of uncoupled excitable systems due to a common noise. We consider two identical FitzHugh–Nagumo systems, which display both spiking and nonspiking behaviours in chaotic or periodic regimes. An electronic circuit provides a laboratory implementation of these dynamics. Synchronization is tested with both white and coloured noise, showing that coloured noise is more effective in inducing synchronization of the systems. We also study the effects on the synchronization of parameter mismatch and of the presence of intrinsic (not common) noise, and we conclude that the best performance of coloured noise is robust under these distortions. 4 Author to whom any correspondence should be addressed. New Journal of Physics 12 (2010) 05304