Abstract:
Recent advances in nonlinear dynamics, neuroscience, and interdisciplinary research increasingly suggest that human cognition, stress regulation, and intentional behavioral changes may be understood through the framework of complex dynamical systems. For instance, synchronization of neurons is believed to play a crucial role in the brain under normal conditions, e.g., in the context of cognition and learning, and under pathological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or epileptic seizures. In the latter case, when synchronization represents an undesired state, understanding the mechanisms of desynchronization is particularly important. In other words, the possible transitions from synchronized to desynchronized regimes and vice versa should be investigated. It is known that such dynamical transitions involve the formation of partial synchronization patterns, where only one part of the network is synchronized. The most prominent example is given by chimera states. An alternative dynamical scenario and the corresponding peculiar pattern, called solitary states, have recently received considerable attention.
It is known that in systems of phase oscillators, solitary states can appear as the system undergoes a transition from disordered behavior to a synchronized regime. Interestingly, as we show in the first part of the talk, in models of spiking neurons, they can appear in both directions of the transition. More specifically, we investigate networks of coupled FitzHugh-Nagumo neurons with pairwise and second-order interactions. In the case of weak higher-order interactions, we demonstrate that solitary states appear for both transition directions as the pairwise coupling strength is varied.
In the second part of the talk, we explore how concepts from nonlinear dynamics, complex networks and neuroscience may provide a useful framework for (i) understanding intentional changes in our cognition and behavior, and (ii) developing scientifically grounded and efficient transformative approaches. For example, it is important to study the interaction of the following functional neural networks: the default mode network, the central executive network, the salience network, and the attention network. It is the complex interplay of these four networks, along with the two branches of the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic), that allows us to give focused attention to our intentions and make them important enough to the brain to embed them in the subconscious, thereby enabling us to use its
resources to reach our goals. The final part of the talk is intended as an open interdisciplinary discussion and brainstorming session.