Synchronous Chaos in Highdimensional Modular Neural Networks

The relationship between certain types of highdimensional neural networks and low-dimensional prototypical equations (neuromodules) is investigated. The high-dimensional systems consist of finitely many pools containing identical, dissipative and nonlinear single-units operating in discrete time. Under the assumption of random connections inside and between pools, the system can be reduced to a set of only a few equations, which asymptotically in time and system size describe the behavior of every single unit arbitrarily well. This result can be viewed as synchronization of the single units in each pool. It is stated as a theorem on systems of nonlinear coupled maps, which gives explicit conditions on the single unit dynamics and the nature of the random connections. As an application we compare a 2-pool network with the corresponding 2-dimensional dynamics. The bifurcation diagrams of both systems become very similar even for moderate system size (N=50) and large disorder in the connection strengths (50% of mean), despite the fact, that the systems exhibit fairly complex behavior (quasiperiodicity, chaos, coexisting attractors). ∗in: International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos, 6, 2055 -2067, 1996.