Energy efficiency of information transmission by electrically coupled neurons.

The generation of spikes by neurons is energetically a costly process. This paper studies the consumption of energy and the information entropy in the signalling activity of a model neuron both when it is supposed isolated and when it is coupled to another neuron by an electrical synapse. The neuron has been modelled by a four-dimensional Hindmarsh-Rose type kinetic model for which an energy function has been deduced.

Energy aspects of the synchronization of model neurons.

We have deduced an energy function for a Hindmarsh-Rose model neuron and we have used it to evaluate the energy consumption of the neuron during its signaling activity. We investigate the balance of energy in the synchronization of two bidirectional linearly coupled neurons at different values of the coupling strength. We show that when two neurons are coupled there is a specific cost associated to the cooperative behavior.

Minimization of the energy flow in the synchronization of nonidentical chaotic systems.

We argue that maintaining a synchronized regime between different chaotic systems requires a net flow of energy between the guided system and an external energy source. This energy flow can be spontaneously reduced if the systems are flexible enough as to structurally approach each other through an adequate adaptive change in their parameter values. We infer that this reduction of energy can play a role in the synchronization of bursting neurons and other natural oscillators.

Energy balance in feedback synchronization of chaotic systems.

In this paper we present a method based on a generalized Hamiltonian formalism to associate to a chaotic system of known dynamics a function of the phase space variables with the characteristics of an energy. Using this formalism we have found energy functions for the Lorenz, Rössler, and Chua families of chaotic oscillators. We have theoretically analyzed the flow of energy in the process of synchronizing two chaotic systems via feedback coupling and used the previously found energy functions for computing the required energy to maintain a synchronized regime between systems of these families.

Parameter-adaptive identical synchronization disclosing Lorenz chaotic masking.

A parameter-adaptive rule that globally synchronizes oscillatory Lorenz chaotic systems with initially different parameter values is reported. In principle, the adaptive rule requires access to the three state variables of the drive system but it has been readapted to work with the exclusive knowledge of only one variable, a potential message carrier. The rule is very robust and can be used to trace parameter modulation conveying hidden messages.