@article{BaptistaKurths2005, author = {Baptista, Murilo da Silva and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Chaotic channel}, issn = {1539-3755}, year = {2005}, abstract = {This work combines the theory of chaotic synchronization with the theory of information in order to introduce the chaotic channel, an active medium formed by connected chaotic systems. This subset of a large chaotic net represents the path along which information flows. We show that the possible amount of information exchange between the transmitter, where information enters the net, and the receiver, the destination of the information, is proportional to the level of synchronization between these two special subsystems}, language = {en} } @article{BaptistaPereiraSartorellietal.2005, author = {Baptista, Murilo da Silva and Pereira, Tiago and Sartorelli, J. C. and Caldas, Ibere Luiz and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Non-transitive maps in phase synchronization}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Concepts from Ergodic Theory are used to describe the existence of special non-transitive maps in attractors of phase synchronous chaotic oscillators. In particular, it is shown that, for a class of phase-coherent oscillators, these special maps imply phase synchronization. We illustrate these ideas in the sinusoidally forced Chua's circuit and two coupled Rossler oscillators. Furthermore, these results are extended to other coupled chaotic systems. In addition, a phase for a chaotic attractor is defined from the tangent vector of the flow. Finally, it is discussed how these maps can be used for the real-time detection of phase synchronization in experimental systems. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved}, language = {en} } @article{BeimGrabenFrischFinketal.2005, author = {Beim Graben, Peter and Frisch, Stefan and Fink, A. and Saddy, Douglas and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Topographic voltage and coherence mapping of brain potentials by means of the symbolic resonance analysis}, issn = {1539-3755}, year = {2005}, abstract = {We apply the recently developed symbolic resonance analysis to electroencephalographic measurements of event- related brain potentials (ERPs) in a language processing experiment by using a three-symbol static encoding with varying thresholds for analyzing the ERP epochs, followed by a spin-flip transformation as a nonlinear filter. We compute an estimator of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the symbolic dynamics measuring the coherence of threshold-crossing events. Hence, we utilize the inherent noise of the EEG for sweeping the underlying ERP components beyond the encoding thresholds. Plotting the SNR computed within the time window of a particular ERP component (the N400) against the encoding thresholds, we find different resonance curves for the experimental conditions. The maximal differences of the SNR lead to the estimation of optimal encoding thresholds. We show that topographic brain maps of the optimal threshold voltages and of their associated coherence differences are able to dissociate the underlying physiological processes, while corresponding maps gained from the customary voltage averaging technique are unable to do so}, language = {en} } @article{BelykhOsipovKucklaenderetal.2005, author = {Belykh, Vladimir N. and Osipov, Grigory V. and Kuckl{\"a}nder, Nina and Blasius, Bernd and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Automatic control of phase synchronization in coupled complex oscillators}, year = {2005}, abstract = {We present an automatic control method for phase locking of regular and chaotic non-identical oscillations, when all subsystems interact via feedback. This method is based on the well known principle of feedback control which takes place in nature and is successfully used in engineering. In contrast to unidirectional and bidirectional coupling, the approach presented here supposes the existence of a special controller, which allows to change the parameters of the controlled systems. First we discuss general principles of automatic phase synchronization (PS) for arbitrary coupled systems with a controller whose input is given by a special quadratic form of coordinates of the individual systems and its output is a result of the application of a linear differential operator. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach for controlled PS on several examples: (i) two coupled regular oscillators, (ii) coupled regular and chaotic oscillators, (iii) two coupled chaotic R"ossler oscillators, (iv) two coupled foodweb models, (v) coupled chaotic R"ossler and Lorenz oscillators, (vi) ensembles of locally coupled regular oscillators, (vii) ensembles of locally coupled chaotic oscillators, and (viii) ensembles of globally coupled chaotic oscillators.}, language = {en} } @article{BittmannGutschowLutheretal.2005, author = {Bittmann, Frank and Gutschow, Stephan and Luther, Sven and Wessel, Niels and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {On the functional relationship between postural motor balance and performance at school}, year = {2005}, abstract = {In integrated medical considerations of the biological human system, both intellectual and motor performances in a similar manner are considered as a result of the function of the nervous system. Consequently, universal minimal dysfunctions of the central nervous system may lead to both intellectual and physical anomalies. Therefore, this study tests the hypothesis that there is a connection between the balance ability as a motor parameter and school success as an intellectual parameter. A postural measuring system based on the force-moment sensor technique was used to record the postural balance regulation of 773 children (circle divide 11 +/- 1 years). The school achievement of each child was determined by school grades. Data analysis was performed by linear as well as by nonlinear time series analyses. There are highly significant differences in balance regulation between good and poor pupils recognized by several linear and nonlinear parameters. Good pupils could be discriminated from pupils with bad results in learning to 80 \%. The results support the hypothesis mentioned above. One possible explanation for the poor regulation of balance in bad learners could be a deficit in the neural maturity. In future, further developments will be targeted on higher discrimination levels, possibly in order to predict school success. On the other hand, the effects of special movement exercises on the neural development in childhood will be the focus in our further work}, language = {en} } @article{FeudelWittGellertetal.2005, author = {Feudel, Fred and Witt, Annette and Gellert, Marcus and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen and Grebogi, Celso and Sanjuan, Miguel Angel Fernandez}, title = {Intersections of stable and unstable manifolds : the skeleton of Lagrangian chaos}, year = {2005}, abstract = {We study Hamiltonian chaos generated by the dynamics of passive tracers moving in a two-dimensional fluid flow and describe the complex structure formed in a chaotic layer that separates a vortex region from the shear flow. The stable and unstable manifolds of unstable periodic orbits are computed. It is shown that their intersections in the Poincare map as an invariant set of homoclinic points constitute the backbone of the chaotic layer. Special attention is paid to the finite time properties of the chaotic layer. In particular, finite time Lyapunov exponents are computed and a scaling law of the variance of their distribution is derived. Additionally, the box counting dimension as an effective dimension to characterize the fractal properties of the layer is estimated for different duration times of simulation. Its behavior in the asymptotic time limit is discussed. By computing the Lyapunov exponents and by applying methods of symbolic dynamics, the formation of the layer as a function of the external forcing strength, which in turn represents the perturbation of the originally integrable system, is characterized. In particular, it is shown that the capture of KAM tori by the layer has a remarkable influence on the averaged Lyapunov exponents. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved}, language = {en} } @article{KitajimaKurths2005, author = {Kitajima, H. and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Synchronized firing of FitzHugh-Nagumo neurons by noise}, issn = {1054-1500}, year = {2005}, abstract = {We investigate the influence of noise on synchronization between the spiking activities of neurons with external impulsive forces. We first analyze the dependence of the synchronized firing on the amplitude and the angular frequency of the impulsive force in the noise-free system. Three cases (regular spiking, traveling wave, and chaotic spiking) with low synchronized firing are chosen to study effects due to noise. In each case we find that small noise can be a promoter of synchronization phenomena in neural activities, by choosing an appropriate noise intensity acting on some of the neurons. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics}, language = {en} } @article{MaraunKurths2005, author = {Maraun, Douglas and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Epochs of phase coherence between El Nino/Southern Oscillation and Indian monsoon}, issn = {0094-8276}, year = {2005}, abstract = {We present a modern method used in nonlinear time series analysis to investigate the relation of two oscillating systems with respect to their phases, independently of their amplitudes. We study the difference of the phase dynamics between El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Monsoon on inter-annual time scales. We identify distinct epochs, especially two intervals of phase coherence, 1886 - 1908 and 1964 - 1980, corroborating earlier findings from a new point of view. A significance test shows that the coherence is very unlikely to be the result of stochastic fluctuations. We also detect so far unknown periods of coupling which are invisible to linear methods. These findings suggest that the decreasing correlation during the last decades might be a typical epoch of the ENSO/ Monsoon system having occurred repeatedly. The high time resolution of the method enables us to present an interpretation of how volcanic radiative forcing could cause the coupling}, language = {en} } @article{MarwanKurths2005, author = {Marwan, Norbert and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Line structures in recurrence plots}, issn = {0375-9601}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Recurrence plots exhibit line structures which represent typical behaviour of the investigated system. The local slope of these line structures is connected with a specific transformation of the time scales of different segments of the phase-space trajectory. This provides us a better understanding of the structures occurring in recurrence plots. The relationship between the time-scales and line structures are of practical importance in cross recurrence plots. Using this relationship within cross recurrence plots, the time-scales of differently sampled or time- transformed measurements can be adjusted. An application to geophysical measurements illustrates the capability of this method for the adjustment of time-scales in different measurements. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved}, language = {en} } @article{MeineckeZieheKurthsetal.2005, author = {Meinecke, Frank C. and Ziehe, Andreas and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen and M{\"u}ller, Klaus-Robert}, title = {Measuring phase synchronization of superimposed signals}, issn = {0031-9007}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Phase synchronization is an important phenomenon that occurs in a wide variety of complex oscillatory processes. Measuring phase synchronization can therefore help to gain fundamental insight into nature. In this Letter we point out that synchronization analysis techniques can detect spurious synchronization, if they are fed with a superposition of signals such as in electroencephalography or magnetoencephalography data. We show how techniques from blind source separation can help to nevertheless measure the true synchronization and avoid such pitfalls}, language = {en} }