Experimental verification of an opto-chemical "neurocomputer".

A theoretically predicted hierarchical network of pulse coupled chemical micro-oscillators and excitable micro-cells that we call a chemical "neurocomputer" (CN) or even a chemical "brain" is tested experimentally using the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction. The CN consists of five functional units: (1) a central pattern generator (CPG), (2) an antenna, (3) a reader for the CPG, (4) a reader for the antenna unit, and (5) a decision making (DM) unit. A hybrid CN, in which such chemical units as readers and DM units are replaced by electronic units, is tested as well.

Experimental Investigation of the Dynamical Modes of Four Pulse-Coupled Chemical Micro-Oscillators.

We present an experimental system of four identical microreactors (MRs) in which the photosensitive oscillatory Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction occurs. The inhibitory coupling of these BZ MRs is organized via pulses of light coming to each MR from a computer projector. These pulses are induced by spike(s) in other MR(s) of the same network.

Controllable switching between stable modes in a small network of pulse-coupled chemical oscillators.

Switching between stable oscillatory modes in a network of four Belousov-Zhabotinsky oscillators coupled in a ring via unidirectional inhibitory pulsatile coupling with a time delay is analysed computationally and experimentally. There are five stable modes in this network: in-phase, anti-phase, walk, walk reverse, and three-cluster modes. Transitions between the modes are carried out by short external pulses applied to one or several oscillators.

A 'reader' unit of the chemical computer.

We suggest the main principals and functional units of the parallel chemical computer, namely, (i) a generator (which is a network of coupled oscillators) of oscillatory dynamic modes, (ii) a unit which is able to recognize these modes (a 'reader') and (iii) a decision-making unit, which analyses the current mode, compares it with the external signal and sends a command to the mode generator to switch it to the other dynamical regime. Three main methods of the functioning of the reader unit are suggested and tested computationally: (a) the polychronization method, which explores the differences between the phases of the generator oscillators; (b) the amplitude method which detects clusters of the generator and (c) the resonance method which is based on the resonances between the frequencies of the generator modes and the internal frequencies of the damped oscillations of the reader cells. Pro and contra of these methods have been analysed.

Dynamical regimes of four almost identical chemical oscillators coupled via pulse inhibitory coupling with time delay.

The dynamic regimes in networks of four almost identical spike oscillators with pulsatile coupling via inhibitor are systematically studied. We used two models to describe individual oscillators: a phase-oscillator model and a model for the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction. A time delay τ between a spike in one oscillator and the spike-induced inhibitory perturbation of other oscillators is introduced.