https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2016-02626-7
Regular Article
The influence of hubs in the structure of a neuronal network during an epileptic seizure
1 Bioinformatics Interunits Graduate Program, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
2 Instituto de Física Teórica, Universidade Estadual Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
3 Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
a e-mail: birasm@gmail.com
Received: 6 October 2015
Revised: 14 January 2016
Published online: 29 February 2016
In this work, we propose changes in the structure of a neuronal network with the intention to provoke strong synchronization to simulate episodes of epileptic seizure. Starting with a network of Izhikevich neurons we slowly increase the number of connections in selected nodes in a controlled way, to produce (or not) hubs. We study how these structures alter the synchronization on the spike firings interval, on individual neurons as well as on mean values, as a function of the concentration of connections for random and non-random (hubs) distribution. We also analyze how the post-ictal signal varies for the different distributions. We conclude that a network with hubs is more appropriate to represent an epileptic state.
© EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag, 2016
