A Neuronal Model at the Edge of Criticality: An Ising-Inspired Approach to Brain Dynamics

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Main Authors: Sarmastani, Sajedeh, Ghodrat, Maliheh, Jamali, Yousef
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Sarmastani, Sajedeh
Ghodrat, Maliheh
Jamali, Yousef
author_facet Sarmastani, Sajedeh
Ghodrat, Maliheh
Jamali, Yousef
contents We present a neuronal network model inspired by the Ising model, where each neuron is a binary spin ($s_i = \pm1$) interacting with its neighbors on a 2D lattice. Updates are asynchronous and follow Metropolis dynamics, with a temperature-like parameter $T$ introducing stochasticity. To incorporate physiological realism, each neuron includes fixed on/off durations, mimicking the refractory period found in real neurons. These counters prevent immediate reactivation, adding biologically grounded timing constraints to the model. As $T$ varies, the network transitions from asynchronous to synchronised activity. Near a critical point $T_c$, we observe hallmarks of criticality: heightened fluctuations, long-range correlations, and increased sensitivity. These features resemble patterns found in cortical recordings, supporting the hypothesis that the brain operates near criticality for optimal information processing. This simplified model demonstrates how basic spin interactions and physiological constraints can yield complex, emergent behavior, offering a useful tool for studying criticality in neural systems through statistical physics.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_07027
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A Neuronal Model at the Edge of Criticality: An Ising-Inspired Approach to Brain Dynamics
Sarmastani, Sajedeh
Ghodrat, Maliheh
Jamali, Yousef
Neurons and Cognition
Soft Condensed Matter
Computation
We present a neuronal network model inspired by the Ising model, where each neuron is a binary spin ($s_i = \pm1$) interacting with its neighbors on a 2D lattice. Updates are asynchronous and follow Metropolis dynamics, with a temperature-like parameter $T$ introducing stochasticity. To incorporate physiological realism, each neuron includes fixed on/off durations, mimicking the refractory period found in real neurons. These counters prevent immediate reactivation, adding biologically grounded timing constraints to the model. As $T$ varies, the network transitions from asynchronous to synchronised activity. Near a critical point $T_c$, we observe hallmarks of criticality: heightened fluctuations, long-range correlations, and increased sensitivity. These features resemble patterns found in cortical recordings, supporting the hypothesis that the brain operates near criticality for optimal information processing. This simplified model demonstrates how basic spin interactions and physiological constraints can yield complex, emergent behavior, offering a useful tool for studying criticality in neural systems through statistical physics.
title A Neuronal Model at the Edge of Criticality: An Ising-Inspired Approach to Brain Dynamics
topic Neurons and Cognition
Soft Condensed Matter
Computation
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.07027