Better synchronizability predicted by a new coupling method

In this paper, inspired by the idea that the hub nodes of a highly heterogeneous network are not only the bottlenecks, but also effective controllers in the network synchronizing process, we bring forward an asymmetrical coupling method where the coupling strength of each node depends on its neighbors' degrees. Compared with the uniform coupled method and the recently proposed Motter-Zhou-Kurth method, the synchronizability of scale-free networks can be remarkably enhanced by using the present coupled method.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures; to be published in EPJ

Enhance synchronizability via age-based coupling

In this brief report, we study the synchronization of growing scale-free networks. An asymmetrical age-based coupling method is proposed with only one free parameter $\alpha$. Although the coupling matrix is asymmetric, our coupling method could guarantee that all the eigenvalues are non-negative reals. The eigneratio R will approach to 1 in the large limit of $\alpha$.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figur

Enhance synchronizability by structural perturbations

In this paper, we investigate the collective synchronization of system of coupled oscillators on Barab\'{a}si-Albert scale-free network. We propose an approach of structural perturbations aiming at those nodes with maximal betweenness. This method can markedly enhance the network synchronizability, and is easy to be realized. The simulation results show that the eigenratio will sharply decrease to its half when only 0.6% of those hub nodes are under 3-division processes when network size N=2000. In addition, the present study also provides a theoretical evidence that the maximal betweenness plays a main role in network synchronization.Comment: 4 pages, 3 eps figure

Postsynaptic protein organization revealed by electron microscopy.

Neuronal synapses are key devices for transmitting and processing information in the nervous system. Synaptic plasticity, generally regarded as the cellular basis of learning and memory, involves changes of subcellular structures that take place at the nanoscale. High-resolution imaging methods, especially electron microscopy (EM), have allowed for quantitative analysis of such nanoscale structures in different types of synapses. In particular, the semi-ordered organization of neurotransmitter receptors and their interacting scaffolds in the postsynaptic density have been characterized for both excitatory and inhibitory synapses by studies using various EM techniques such as immuno-EM, electron tomography of high-pressure freezing and freeze-substituted samples, and cryo electron tomography. These techniques, in combination with new correlative approaches, will further facilitate our understanding of the molecular organization underlying diverse functions of neuronal synapses