Vibrational resonance in neuron populations with hybrid synapses

In this paper, vibrational resonance in excitable neuron populations with synapses is investigated by numerical simulation. In particular, the effect of the hybrid synapses on the signal detection and transmission in neural system is studied. Different topologies from regular and random networks to small-world networks are considered to analyze the dependence of vibrational resonance on the network structure and parameters. It is shown that there exists an optimal amplitude of high-frequency driving, enhancing the response of coupled neuron populations to a subthreshold signal. We find that chemical synaptic coupling is more efficient than the electrical coupling in signal detection and electrical synaptic coupling is better in signal transmission. Neuron populations with hybrid synapses compromise the merits of the two types of coupling and have an advantage in information communication. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.