The interplay between diversity and noise in an excitable cell network model

We study the interplay between diversity and noise in a 3D network of FitzHugh-Nagumo elements, with topology and dimensions chosen to model a pancreatic beta-cell cluster, as an example of an excitable cell network. Our results show that diversity and noise are not equivalent sources of disorder but have different effects on network dynamics. Their synchronization mechanisms may act independently of one another or synergistically, depending on the mean value of the diversity distribution compared to the intrinsic oscillatory range of the network elements.
Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures