Narrow Results

Bifurcations and chaos in a network of three identical sigmoidal neurons are examined. The network consists of a two-neuron oscillator of the Wilson–Cowan type and an additional third neuron, which has a simpler structure than chaotic neural networks in the previous studies. A codimension-two fold-pitchfork bifurcation connecting two periodic solutions exists, which is accompanied by the Neimark–Sacker bifurcation. A stable quasiperiodic solution is generated and Arnold’s tongues emanate from the locus of the Neimark–Sacker bifurcation in a two-dimensional parameter space. The merging, splitting and crossing of the Arnold tongues are observed. Further, multiple chaotic attractors are generated through cascades of period-doubling bifurcations of periodic solutions in the Arnold tongues. The chaotic attractors grow and are destroyed through crises. Transient chaos and crisis-induced intermittency due to the crises are also observed. These quasiperiodic solutions and chaotic attractors are robust to small asymmetry in the output function of neurons.

Quasiperiodicity and chaos in a ring of unidirectionally coupled sigmoidal neurons (a ring neural oscillator) caused by a single shortcut is examined. A codimension-two Hopf–Hopf bifurcation for two periodic solutions exists in a ring of six neurons without self-couplings and in a ring of four neurons with self-couplings in the presence of a shortcut at specific locations. The locus of the Neimark–Sacker bifurcation of the periodic solution emanates from the Hopf–Hopf bifurcation point and a stable quasiperiodic solution is generated. Arnold’s tongues emanate from the locus of the Neimark–Sacker bifurcation, and multiple chaotic oscillations are generated through period-doubling cascades of periodic solutions in the Arnold’s tongues. Further, such chaotic irregular oscillations due to a single shortcut are also observed in propagating oscillations in a ring of Bonhoeffer–van der Pol (BVP) neurons coupled unidirectionally by slow synapses.

There are few explicit examples in the literature of vector fields exhibiting observable chaos that may be proved analytically. This paper reports numerical experiments performed for an explicit two-parameter family of $𝕊𝕆(2)\oplus {\mathbb{Z}}_2$-symmetric vector fields whose organizing center exhibits an attracting heteroclinic network linking two saddle-foci. Each vector field in the family is the restriction to ${𝕊}^3$ of a polynomial vector field in ${ℝ}^4$. We investigate global bifurcations due to symmetry-breaking and we detect strange attractors via a mechanism called Torus-Breakdown. We explain how an attracting torus gets destroyed by following the changes in the unstable manifold of a saddle-focus.

Although a complete understanding of the corresponding bifurcation diagram and the mechanisms underlying the dynamical changes is out of reach, we uncover complex patterns for the symmetric family under analysis, using a combination of theoretical tools and computer simulations. This article suggests a route to obtain rotational horseshoes and strange attractors; additionally, we make an attempt to elucidate some of the bifurcations involved in an Arnold tongue.

In ecology, the predator’s impact goes beyond just killing the prey. In the present work, we explore the role of fear in the dynamics of a discrete-time predator-prey model where the predator-prey interaction obeys Holling type-II functional response. Owing to the increasing strength of fear, the system becomes stable from chaotic oscillations via inverse Neimark–Sacker bifurcation. Extensive numerical simulations are carried out to investigate the intricate dynamics for the organization of periodic structures in the bi-parameter space of the system. We observe fear induced multistability between different pairs of coexisting heterogeneous attractors due to the overlapping of multiple periodic domains in the bi-parameter space. The basin sets of the coexisting attractors are obtained and discussed at length. Multistability in the predator-prey system is important because the dynamics of the predator and prey populations in the critical parameter zone becomes uncertain.

The three-dimensional Muthuswamy–Chua–Ginoux (MCG) circuit model is a generalization of the paradigmatic canonical Muthuswamy–Chua circuit, where a physical memristor assumes the role of a thermistor, and it is connected in series with a linear passive capacitor, a linear passive inductor, and a nonlinear resistor. The physical memristor presents an electrical resistance which is a function of temperature. Nowadays, the MCG circuit model has gained considerable attention due to the lack of extensive numerical explorations and their distinct dynamical properties, exemplified by phenomena such as the transition from torus breakdown to chaos, giving rise to a double spiral attractor associated to independent period-doubling cascades. In this contribution, the complex dynamics of the MCG circuit model is studied in terms of the Lyapunov exponents spectra, Kaplan–Yorke (KY) dimension, and the number of local maxima (LM) computed in one period of oscillation, as two parameters are simultaneously varied. Using the Lyapunov spectra to distinguish different dynamical regimes, KY dimension to estimate the attractors’ dimension, and the number of LM to characterize different periodic attractors, we construct high-resolution two-dimensional stability diagrams considering specific ranges of the parameter pairs $(\alpha ,𝜖)$. These parameters are associated with the inverse of the capacitance in the passive capacitor, and the heat capacitance and dissipation constant of the thermistor, respectively. Unexpectedly, we identify sequences of infinite self-organized generic stable periodic structures (SPSs) and Arnold tongues-like structures (ATSs) merged into chaotic dynamics domains, and the coexistence of different attracting sets (attractors) for the same parameter combinations and different initial conditions (multistability). We explore the multistable dynamics using the stability analysis and computation of Lyapunov coefficients, the inspection of the coexisting attractors, bifurcations diagrams, and basins of attraction. The periods of the ATSs and a particular sequence of shrimp-shaped SPSs obey specific generating and recurrence rules responsible for the bifurcation cascades. As the MCG circuit model has the crucial properties presented by the usual Muthuswamy–Chua circuit model, specific properties explored in our study should be helpful in real problems involving circuits with the presence of physical memristor playing the role of thermistors.

In a food chain, the role of intake patterns of predators is very influential on the survival and extinction of the interacting species as well as the entire dynamics of the ecological system. In this study, we investigate the affluent and intricate dynamics of a simple three-species food chain model in a discrete-time framework by analyzing the parameter plane of the system with simultaneous changes of two crucial parameters, the predation rates of middle and top predators. From the theoretical viewpoint, we study the model by determining the fixed points’ biological feasibility and local asymptotic stability criteria, and performing some analyses of local bifurcations, namely, transcritical, flip, and Neimark–Sacker bifurcations. Here, we initiate the numerical simulation by plotting the changes of the prey population density in terms of a vital parameter of the system, and we observe the switching among different dynamical behaviors of the system. We also draw some phase portraits and plot the time series solutions to show the diverse characteristics of the system dynamics. Further, we move one step ahead to explore the intricate dynamical scenarios appearing in the parameter plane by forming Lyapunov exponent and isoperiodic diagrams. In the parameter plane of the system, we see the emergence of innumerable Arnold tongues. All these Arnold tongues are organized along a particular direction, and the beautiful arrangement of these tongues forms several kinds of period-adding sequences. The study sheds more light on various types of multistability occurring in the model system. We see the coexistence of three periodic attractors in the parameter plane. In this study, the most striking observation is the coexistence of four periodic attractors, which occurs infrequently in ecological systems. We draw the basins of attraction for the tristable and tetrastable attractors, which are complex Wada basins. A system with Wada basin is very sensitive to initial conditions and more erratic in nature than a system with fractal basin. Also, we plot the density of all interacting species in terms of the predation rates of middle and top predators and observe the variation in the population densities of all species with the variability of these two key parameters. In the parameter plane created by the simultaneous changes of two parameters, the system exhibits a variety of intricate and subtle dynamics, which cannot be found by changing only a single parameter.

In population biology, prey species try to maintain a delicate balance between reproduction and safety. The prey species subject to the mate-finding Allee effect may face a tough choice: risking life for more certain mating opportunities or decreasing mating activity to evade predators in the hope that a longer lifespan will compensate the reduced mating opportunities. In this paper, we consider a discrete-time predator–prey model where the logistically growing prey species experiences the mate-finding Allee effect. We assume that as predator density increases, prey individuals become more vigilant, leading to a decrease in their mate searching activity. We also consider that a constant proportion of prey individuals seek refuge from their predators due to the fear of predation risk. Our numerical simulations reveal that refuge has a stabilizing effect on the population dynamics, while for a certain amount of prey refuge, a decrease in the searching efficiency of mating partners due to the fear of predation risk has a destabilizing effect. We vary the parameters related to the predation-driven Allee effect and refuge simultaneously to explore system dynamics in the parameter plane and observe various intricate and striking properties of the system dynamics. The most significant discovery of our study is the novel organization of Arnold tongues in quasiperiodic and chaotic regimes. The organization of Arnold tongues looks like a “wing of a flapping bird”. Furthermore, we observe bistability between coexisting periodic attractors and notice intriguing patterns in the basins of attraction of these attractors. Lastly, we analyze the effect of the parameters related to the predation-driven Allee effect and refuge on the equilibrium densities of both species and also explore the dynamics of the analogous continuous-time system in the parameter plane.