In this paper, we develop the mathematical structure of the Wright–Fisher model for evolution of the relative frequencies of two alleles at a diploid locus under random genetic drift in a population of fixed size in its simplest form, that is, without mutation or selection. We establish a new concept of a global solution for the diffusion approximation (Fokker–Planck equation), prove its existence and uniqueness and then show how one can easily derive all the essential properties of this random genetic drift process from our solution. Thus, our solution turns out to be superior to the local solution constructed by Kimura.

All previous studies on self-induced stochastic resonance (SISR) in neural systems have only considered the idealized Gaussian white noise. Moreover, these studies have ignored one electrophysiological aspect of the nerve cell: its memristive properties. In this paper, first, we show that in the excitable regime, the asymptotic matching of the deterministic timescale and mean escape timescale of an $$\alpha $$α -stable Lévy process (with value increasing as a power $$\sigma ^{-\alpha }$$σ - α of the noise amplitude $$\sigma $$σ , unlike the mean escape timescale of a Gaussian process which increases as in Kramers’ law) can also induce a strong SISR. In addition, it is shown that the degree of SISR induced by Lévy noise is not always higher than that of Gaussian noise. Second, we show that, for both types of noises, the two memristive properties of the neuron have opposite effects on the degree of SISR: the stronger the feedback gain parameter that controls the modulation of the membrane potential with the magnetic flux and the weaker the feedback gain parameter that controls the saturation of the magnetic flux, the higher the degree of SISR. Finally, we show that, for both types of noises, the degree of SISR in the memristive neuron is always higher than in the non-memristive neuron. Our results could guide hardware implementations of neuromorphic silicon circuits operating in noisy regimes.

In this paper, we provide a complete mathematical construction for a stochastic leaky-integrate-and-fire model (LIF) mimicking the interspike interval (ISI) statistics of a stochastic FitzHugh–Nagumo neuron model (FHN) in the excitable regime, where the unique fixed point is stable. Under specific types of noises, we prove that there exists a global random attractor for the stochastic FHN system. The linearization method is then applied to estimate the firing time and to derive the associated radial equation representing a LIF equation. This result confirms the previous prediction in Ditlevsen and Greenwood (J Math Biol 67(2):239–259, 2013 ) for the Morris-Lecar neuron model in the bistability regime consisting of a stable fixed point and a stable limit cycle.

Models of adaptive bet-hedging commonly adopt insights from Kelly’s famous work on optimal gambling strategies and the financial value of information. In particular, such models seek evolutionary solutions that maximize long-term average growth rate of lineages, even in the face of highly stochastic growth trajectories. Here, we argue for extensive departures from the standard approach to better account for evolutionary contingencies. Crucially, we incorporate considerations of volatility minimization, motivated by interim extinction risk in finite populations, within a finite time horizon approach to growth maximization. We find that a game-theoretic competitive optimality approach best captures these additional constraints and derive the equilibria solutions under straightforward fitness payoff functions and extinction risks. We show that for both maximal growth and minimal time relative payoffs, the log-optimal strategy is a unique pure strategy symmetric equilibrium, invariant with evolutionary time horizon and robust to low extinction risks.