The multistable behavior of neural networks is actively being studied as a landmark of ongoing cerebral activity, reported in both functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and electro- or magnetoencephalography recordings. This consists of a continuous jumping between different partially synchronized states in the absence of external stimuli. It is thought to be an important mechanism for dealing with sensory novelty and to allow for efficient coding of information in an ever-changing surrounding environment. Many advances have been made to understand how network topology, connection delays, and noise can contribute to building this dynamic. Little or no attention, however, has been paid to the difference between local chaotic and stochastic influences on the switching between different network states. Using a conductance-based neural model that can have chaotic dynamics, we showed that a network can show multistable dynamics in a certain range of global connectivity strength and under deterministic conditions. In the present work, we characterize the multistable dynamics when the networks are, in addition to chaotic, subject to ion channel stochasticity in the form of multiplicative (channel) or additive (current) noise. We calculate the Functional Connectivity Dynamics matrix by comparing the Functional Connectivity (FC) matrices that describe the pair-wise phase synchronization in a moving window fashion and performing clustering of FCs. Moderate noise can enhance the multistable behavior that is evoked by chaos, resulting in more heterogeneous synchronization patterns, while more intense noise abolishes multistability. In networks composed of nonchaotic nodes, some noise can induce multistability in an otherwise synchronized, nonchaotic network. Finally, we found the same results regardless of the multiplicative or additive nature of noise.

The present study aimed to find gender differences for arterial stiffness and arterial aging in smokers. A total of 147 smokers (71 male and 76 female, matched for age) were explored using an Arteriograph in a cross-sectional survey. Pulse wave velocity (PWV), arterial age (AA), brachial and aortic augmentation index (AixBrach, AixAo), and blood pressure variables were assessed. Data about smoking intensity, such as the number of cigarettes smoked daily, smoking period, and smoking pack years (SPY) were used. No significant differences were found for PWV, AA, AixBrach and AixAo. Significant correlations were found between SPY and PWV, augmentation indices, and AA, respectively. The cut-off values for SPY were higher for an increased arterial stiffness in male compared to female smokers (18.5 and 7.5 pack year, respectively). SPY is significantly associated with an increased arterial stiffness in smokers regardless of gender, and with an increased SBPAo only in female smokers. The results of our study indicate gender differences for arterial stiffness and arterial age in smokers.

Cold-sensitive nerve terminals (CSNTs) encode steady temperatures with regular, rhythmic temperature-dependent firing patterns that range from irregular tonic firing to regular bursting (static response). During abrupt temperature changes, CSNTs show a dynamic response, transiently increasing their firing frequency as temperature decreases and silencing when the temperature increases (dynamic response). To date, mathematical models that simulate the static response are based on two depolarizing/repolarizing pairs of membrane ionic conductance (slow and fast kinetics). However, these models fail to reproduce the dynamic response of CSNTs to rapid changes in temperature and notoriously they lack a specific cold-activated conductance such as the TRPM8 channel. We developed a model that includes TRPM8 as a temperature-dependent conductance with a calcium-dependent desensitization. We show by computer simulations that it appropriately reproduces the dynamic response of CSNTs from mouse cornea, while preserving their static response behavior. In this model, the TRPM8 conductance is essential to display a dynamic response. In agreement with experimental results, TRPM8 is also needed for the ongoing activity in the absence of stimulus (i.e. neutral skin temperature). Free parameters of the model were adjusted by an evolutionary optimization algorithm, allowing us to find different solutions. We present a family of possible parameters that reproduce the behavior of CSNTs under different temperature protocols. The detection of temperature gradients is associated to a homeostatic mechanism supported by the calcium-dependent desensitization.

Chaotic dynamics has been shown in the dynamics of neurons and neural networks, in experimental data and numerical simulations. Theoretical studies have proposed an underlying role of chaos in neural systems. Nevertheless, whether chaotic neural oscillators make a significant contribution to network behaviour and whether the dynamical richness of neural networks is sensitive to the dynamics of isolated neurons, still remain open questions. We investigated synchronization transitions in heterogeneous neural networks of neurons connected by electrical coupling in a small world topology. The nodes in our model are oscillatory neurons that – when isolated – can exhibit either chaotic or non-chaotic behaviour, depending on conductance parameters. We found that the heterogeneity of firing rates and firing patterns make a greater contribution than chaos to the steepness of the synchronization transition curve. We also show that chaotic dynamics of the isolated neurons do not always make a visible difference in the transition to full synchrony. Moreover, macroscopic chaos is observed regardless of the dynamics nature of the neurons. However, performing a Functional Connectivity Dynamics analysis, we show that chaotic nodes can promote what is known as multi-stable behaviour, where the network dynamically switches between a number of different semi-synchronized, metastable states.

In this article, we describe and analyze the chaotic behavior of a conductance-based neuronal bursting model. This is a model with a reduced number of variables, yet it retains biophysical plausibility. Inspired by the activity of cold thermoreceptors, the model contains a persistent Sodium current, a Calcium-activated Potassium current and a hyperpolarization-activated current (Ih) that drive a slow subthreshold oscillation. Driven by this oscillation, a fast subsystem (fast Sodium and Potassium currents) fires action potentials in a periodic fashion. Depending on the parameters, this model can generate a variety of firing patterns that includes bursting, regular tonic and polymodal firing. Here we show that the transitions between different firing patterns are often accompanied by a range of chaotic firing, as suggested by an irregular, non-periodic firing pattern. To confirm this, we measure the maximum Lyapunov exponent of the voltage trajectories, and the Lyapunov exponent and Lempel-Ziv's complexity of the ISI time series. The four-variable slow system (without spiking) also generates chaotic behavior, and bifurcation analysis shows that this is often originated by period doubling cascades. Either with or without spikes, chaos is no longer generated when the Ih is removed from the system. As the model is biologically plausible with biophysically meaningful parameters, we propose it as a useful tool to understand chaotic dynamics in neurons.