Cluster synchronization and rhythm dynamics in a complex neuronal network with chemical synapses

•Cluster synchronization and rhythm dynamics are studied for a complex neuronal network connected by chemical synapses•The effects of coupling schemes, the intrinsic property of neurons and the network topology on synchronization are investigated.•Short bursting type is robust with respect to the coupling and the link number.•But more links in the network may change the type of long bursting in neurons.

Cluster synchronization and rhythm dynamics are studied for a complex neuronal network with the small world structure connected by chemical synapses. Cluster synchronization is considered as that in-phase burst synchronization occurs inside each group of the network but diversity may take place among different groups. It is found that both one-cluster and multi-cluster synchronization may exist for chemically excitatory coupled neuronal networks, however, only multi-cluster synchronization can be achieved for chemically inhibitory coupled neuronal networks. The rhythm dynamics of bursting neurons can be described by a quantitative characteristic, the width factor. We also study the effects of coupling schemes, the intrinsic property of neurons and the network topology on the rhythm dynamics of the small world neuronal network. It is shown that the short bursting type is robust with respect to the coupling strength and the coupling scheme. As for the network topology, more links can only change the type of long bursting neurons, and short bursting neurons are also robust to the link numbers.