Dynamics of Delay-Coupled Excitable Neural Systems

We study the nonlinear dynamics of two delay-coupled neural systems each modeled by excitable dynamics of FitzHugh–Nagumo type and demonstrate that bistability between the stable fixed point and limit cycle oscillations occurs for sufficiently large delay times τ and coupling strength C. As the mechanism for these delay-induced oscillations, we identify a saddle-node bifurcation of limit cycles.