Phase synchronization in two coupled chaotic neurons

Chaotically-spiking dynamics of Hindmarsh-Rose neurons an discussed based o n a flexible definition of phase for chaotic flow. The phase synchronizatio n of two coupled chaotic neurons is in fact the spike synchronization. As a multiple time-scale model, the coupled HR neurons have quite different beh aviors from the Rossler oscillators only having single time-scale mechanism . Using such a multiple time-scale model, the phase function can detect syn chronization dynamics that cannot be distinguished by cross-correlation. Mo reover, simulation results show that the Lyapunov exponents cannot be used as a definite criterion for the occurrence of chaotic phase synchronization for such a system. Evaluation of the phase function shows its utility in a nalyzing nonlinear neural systems. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B .V. All rights reserved.