Dynamically maintained spike timing sequences in networks of pulse-coupled oscillators with delays

We demonstrate the widespread occurrence of dynamically maintained spike timing sequences in recurrent networks of pulse-coupled spiking neurons with large time delays. The sequences occur in transient, quasistable phase-locking states. The system spontaneously jumps between these states. This collective dynamics enables the system to generate a large number of distinct precise spike timing sequences. Distributed time delays play a constructive role by enhancing the dominance in parameter space of the dynamics responsible for producing the large variety of spike timing sequences.