STOCHASTIC RESONANCE IN MAMMALIAN NEURONAL NETWORKS

We present stochastic resonance observed in the dynamics of neuronal n etworks from mammalian brain. Both sinusoidal signals and random noise were superimposed into an applied electric field. As the amplitude of the noise component was increased, an optimization (increase then dec rease) in the signal-to-noise ratio of the network response to the sin usoidal signal was observed. The relationship between the measures use d to characterize the dynamics is discussed. Finally, a computational model of these neuronal networks that includes the neuronal interactio ns with the electric field is presented to illustrate the physics behi nd the essential features of the experiment. (C) 1998 American Institu te of Physics.