BLOCKING OF WEAK SIGNAL PROPAGATION VIA AUTAPTIC TRANSMISSION IN SCALE-FREE NETWORKS

In this paper, the effects of autapse, a kind of synapse formed between the axon or soma of a neuron and its own dendrite, on the transmission of weak signal are investigated in scale-free neuronal networks. In the study, we consider that each neuron has an autapse modelled as chemical synapse. Then, a weak signal that is thought to carry information or an unwanted activity such as virus is applied to all neurons in the network. It is seen that the autapse with its small conductance values can slightly increases the transmission of weak signal across the network when the autaptic time delay is equal to the intrinsic oscillation period of the Hodgkin-Huxley neuron. Interestingly, when the autaptic time delay becomes equal to half of this intrinsic period or its integer multiples the autapse can prominently blocks the weak signal transmission. Also, as the autaptic conductance is increased the weak signal transmission is completely impeded by the autapse with its proper auatptic time delays. One consider that the weak signal is an unwanted or virius threatening the whole network, this autaptic mechanism is an efficient way to protect the network from attacks.

Keywords:

Autapse, Scale-free, Blocking of weak signal,

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