Spiking patterns emerging from wave instabilities in a one-dimensional neural lattice.

The dynamics of a one-dimensional lattice (chain) of electrically coupled neurons modeled by the FitzHugh-Nagumo excitable system with modified nonlinearity is investigated. We have found that for certain conditions the lattice exhibits a countable set of pulselike wave solutions. The analysis of homoclinic and heteroclinic bifurcations is given. Corresponding bifurcation sets have the shapes of spirals twisting to the same center. The appearance of chaotic spiking patterns emerging from wave instabilities is discussed.