Gap junction architecture and synchronization clusters in the thalamic reticular nucleus

Anca Rădulescu, Eva Kaslik, Alexandru Fikl

Fifth International Nonlinear Dynamics Conference (NODYCON 2026)

url Chaos synchronization Cluster Dynamics Membrane Potential

Abstract

We study how the connectivity structure of gap junctions (direct electrical synapses between neurons) affects synchronization in a network of inhibitory neurons modeling the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN). Building on the Golomb–Rinzel reduced Hodgkin–Huxley model, we extend the default all-to-all inhibitory network by overlaying gap-junction connections arranged in biologically motivated clustered subnetworks. Sweeping the two-dimensional parameter space of synaptic conductance $g_{syn}$ and electrical conductance $g_{el}$, we construct stochastic bifurcation diagrams that map the probability of different synchronization outcomes. The results show that gap-junction geometry is an independent control parameter: across conductance regimes, weak electrical coupling can transiently destabilize synchrony. These results suggest that the spatial organization of electrical connectivity plays a decisive role in shaping rhythmic coordination within TRN-like networks.

BibTeX

@misc{RadulescuKaslikFikl_NODYCON_2026,
  title         = {
    Gap junction architecture and synchronization clusters in the thalamic
    reticular nucleus
  },
  author        = {Anca R\u{a}dulescu and Eva Kaslik and Alexandru Fikl},
  url           = {https://nodycon2026.app.earendelplatform.com/},
  eventdate     = {2026-09-20},
  eventtitle    = {Fifth International Nonlinear Dynamics Conference (NODYCON 2026)},
  venue         = {Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy},
  type          = {Conference Presentation},
  language      = {en},
  abstract      = {
    We study how the connectivity structure of gap junctions (direct electrical
    synapses between neurons) affects synchronization in a network of
    inhibitory neurons modeling the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN). Building
    on the Golomb–Rinzel reduced Hodgkin–Huxley model, we extend the default
    all-to-all inhibitory network by overlaying gap-junction connections
    arranged in biologically motivated clustered subnetworks. Sweeping the
    two-dimensional parameter space of synaptic conductance $g_{syn}$ and
    electrical conductance $g_{el}$, we construct stochastic bifurcation
    diagrams that map the probability of different synchronization outcomes.
    The results show that gap-junction geometry is an independent control
    parameter: across conductance regimes, weak electrical coupling can
    transiently destabilize synchrony. These results suggest that the spatial
    organization of electrical connectivity plays a decisive role in shaping
    rhythmic coordination within TRN-like networks.
  },
}