Vibrational resonance influenced by the neuronal heterogeneity in a random network with time delays

The effects of neuronal heterogeneity on the interaction of high-frequency electrical field and the firing activities of a random network under the stimuli of subthreshold low-frequency electrical field are studied in detail. It is found that both the types of neurons and the distribution of synaptic strength can modulate the firing activities of the network under the low-frequency electric field. Moreover, the time delays between neurons can also influence the performance of vibrational resonance (VR) phenomenon induced by the two types of electrical fields. As the network here is constructed with similar characteristics (e.g., the ratio of inhibitory neurons and excitatory neurons, the connection probability of neurons, and the axonal conduction delays) as that in the mammalian neocortex, the results should have some suggestions for the application of electrical field stimuli (such as the transcranial electric stimulation) that frequently used nowadays.