Influence of noise sources on FitzHugh-Nagumo model in suprathreshold regime

Abstract

We study the response time of a neuron in the transient regime of FitzHugh-Nagumo model, in the presence of a suprathreshold signal and noise sources. In the deterministic regime we find that the activation time of the neuron has a minimum as a function of the signal driving frequency. In the stochastic regime we consider two cases: (a) the fast variable of the model is noisy, and (b) the slow variable, that is the recovery variable, is subjected to fluctuations. In both cases we find two noise-induced effects, namely the resonant activation-like and the noise enhanced stability phenomena. The role of these noise-induced effects is analyzed. The first one produces suppression of noises, while the second one delays the neuron response. Finally, the role of the phase of the driving signal on the transient dynamics of the neuron is analyzed.