Phase synchronization in two coupled chaotic neurons

Abstract Chaotically-spiking dynamics of Hindmarsh–Rose neurons are discussed based on a flexible definition of phase for chaotic flow. The phase synchronization of two coupled chaotic neurons is in fact the spike synchronization. As a multiple time-scale model, the coupled HR neurons have quite different behaviors from the Rossler oscillators only having single time-scale mechanism. Using such a multiple time-scale model, the phase function can detect synchronization dynamics that cannot be distinguished by cross-correlation. Moreover, simulation results show that the Lyapunov exponents cannot be used as a definite criterion for the occurrence of chaotic phase synchronization for such a system. Evaluation of the phase function shows its utility in analyzing nonlinear neural systems.