Time-delayed feedback in a net of neural elements: Transition from oscillatory to excitable dynamics

The influence of time-delayed feedback on the dynamics of a net of oscillatory FitzHugh-Nagumo elements is investigated. We show that the global oscillation of the net can be suppressed (amplitude death) via time-delayed feedback for properly chosen delay time and feedback strength. The result of a linear stability analysis fits very well to the simulations. In the amplitude death regime, weak additive noise can induce excitation waves (noise-induced pattern formation), a fingerprint of excitable network dynamics.