Bifurcation transitions in gap-junction-coupled neurons.

Here we investigate transitions occurring in the dynamical states of pairs of distinct neurons electrically coupled, with one neuron tonic and the other bursting. Depending on the dynamics of the individual neurons, and for strong enough coupling, they synchronize either in a tonic or a bursting regime, or initially tonic transitioning to bursting via a period doubling cascade. Certain intrinsic properties of the individual neurons such as minimum firing rates are carried over into the dynamics of the coupled neurons affecting their ultimate synchronous state.