Diversity-induced decoherence.

We analyze the effect of small-amplitude noise and heterogeneity in a network of coupled excitable oscillators with strong timescale separation. Using mean-field analysis, we uncover the mechanism of a nontrivial effect-diversity-induced decoherence (DIDC)-in which heterogeneity modulates the mechanism of self-induced stochastic resonance to inhibit the coherence of oscillations. We argue that DIDC may offer one possible mechanism via which, in excitable neural systems, generic heterogeneity and background noise can synergistically prevent unwanted resonances that may be related to hyperkinetic movement disorders.

Hubs, diversity, and synchronization in FitzHugh-Nagumo oscillator networks: Resonance effects and biophysical implications.

Using the FitzHugh-Nagumo equations to represent the oscillatory electrical behavior of ß-cells, we develop a coupled oscillator network model with cubic lattice topology, showing that the emergence of pacemakers or hubs in the system can be viewed as a natural consequence of oscillator population diversity. The optimal hub to nonhub ratio is determined by the position of the diversity-induced resonance maximum for a given set of FitzHugh-Nagumo equation parameters and is predicted by the model to be in a range that is fully consistent with experimental observations. The model also suggests that hubs in a ß-cell network should have the ability to "switch on" and "off" their pacemaker function. As a consequence, their relative amount in the population can vary in order to ensure an optimal oscillatory performance of the network in response to environmental changes, such as variations of an external stimulus.

A bird's-eye view of naming game dynamics: From trait competition to Bayesian inference.

The present contribution reviews a set of different versions of the basic naming game model, differing in the underlying topology or in the mechanisms regulating the interactions between agents. We include also a Bayesian naming game model recently introduced, which merges the social dynamics of the basic naming game model with the Bayesian learning framework introduced by Tenenbaum and co-workers. The latter model goes beyond the fixed nature of names and concepts of standard semiotic dynamics models and the corresponding one-shot learning process by describing dynamically how agents can generalize a concept from a few examples, according to principles of Bayesian inference.

Speciation, diversification, and coexistence of sessile species that compete for space.

Speciation, diversification, and competition between species challenge the stability of complex ecosystems. Laboratory experiments often focus on one or two species competing under conditions where they may grow exponentially. Field studies, in contrast, emphasize multi-species communities characterized by many types of ecological interactions. A general problem is to understand conditions that support a dynamically maintained coexistence of many species in an ecosystem over a long time span. In the present paper we propose a lattice model of multiple competing and evolving sessile species. When allowing the interspecies interactions to mutate, we obtain coexistence of many species in a complex ecosystem, provided that there is a cost for each interaction. The diversity reached by the model incorporating speciation is found to be substantially higher than in the case when entirely new species appear due to immigration from outside of the considered ecosystem. The species self-organize their spatial distribution through competitive interactions to create many patches, implicitly protecting each other from competitively superior species, and speciation in each patch leads the system to high diversity. We also show that species that exist a long time tend to have a relatively small population, as this allows them to avoid encounter with competitive invaders.

Clustering determines who survives for competing Brownian and Lévy walkers.

The competition between two ecologically similar species that use the same resources and differ from each other only in the type of spatial motion they undergo is studied. The latter is assumed to be described either by Brownian motion or Lévy flights. Competition is taken into account by assuming that individuals reproduce in a density-dependent fashion. It is observed that no influence of the type of motion occurs when the two species are in a well-mixed unstructured state. However, as soon as the species develop spatial clustering, the one forming more concentrated clusters gets a competitive advantage and eliminates the other. A similar competitive advantage would occur between walkers of the same type but with different diffusivities if this leads also to different clustering. The coexistence of both species is also possible under certain conditions.

Diffusion and coherence in tilted piecewise linear double-periodic potentials.

In the present paper we study the overdamped motion of Brownian particles in tilted periodic piecewise linear potentials of two maxima per period. This system allows one to observe additional phenomena with respect to the case of single-periodic potentials. We show that for certain types of potentials the effective diffusion coefficient D (F) can be enhanced or suppressed compared to the simple sawtooth case. As the most unexpected result it is found that the curve of diffusion coefficient vs tilt can have two maxima. In the region of Poissonian hopping processes we demonstrate the possibility to have a resonantlike peak in the Péclet number Pe(F) . At the tilting force corresponding to the maximum of Pe(F) , the curve of Péclet number vs temperature possesses two maxima.

Diffusion and current of Brownian particles in tilted piecewise linear potentials: amplification and coherence.

Overdamped motion of Brownian particles in tilted piecewise linear periodic potentials is considered. Explicit algebraic expressions for the diffusion coefficient, current, and coherence level of Brownian transport are derived. Their dependencies on temperature, tilting force, and the shape of the potential are analyzed. The necessary and sufficient conditions for the nonmonotonic behavior of the diffusion coefficient as a function of temperature are determined. The diffusion coefficient and coherence level are found to be extremely sensitive to the asymmetry of the potential. It is established that at the values of the external force, for which the enhancement of diffusion is most rapid, the level of coherence has a wide plateau at low temperatures with the value of the Péclet factor 2. An interpretation of the amplification of diffusion in comparison with free thermal diffusion in terms of probability distribution is proposed.