Dynamical behavior and control of coupled threshold elements with self-inhibition

Coupled threshold elements with self-inhibition display a phase transition to an oscillating state where the elements fire in synchrony with a period T that is of the order of the dead-time caused by self-inhibition. This transition is noise-activated and therefore displays strong collectively enhanced stochastic resonance. For an exponentially decaying distribution of dead-times the transition to the oscillating state occurs, coming from high noise temperatures, via a Hopf bifurcation and coming from low temperatures, via a saddle node bifurcation. The transitions can be triggered externally by noise and oscillating signals. This opens up new possibilities for controlling slow wave sleep.