@article{SchinkelMarwanKurths2009, author = {Schinkel, Stefan and Marwan, Norbert and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Brain signal analysis based on recurrences}, issn = {0928-4257}, doi = {10.1016/j.jphysparis.2009.05.007}, year = {2009}, abstract = {The EEG is one of the most commonly used tools in brain research. Though of high relevance in research, the data obtained is very noisy and nonstationary. In the present article we investigate the applicability of a nonlinear data analysis method, the recurrence quantification analysis (RQA), to Such data. The method solely rests on the natural property of recurrence which is a phenomenon inherent to complex systems, such as the brain. We show that this method is indeed suitable for the analysis of EEG data and that it might improve contemporary EEG analysis.}, language = {en} } @article{ZolotovaPonyavinMarwanetal.2009, author = {Zolotova, Nadezhda V. and Ponyavin, Dmitri I. and Marwan, Norbert and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Long-term asymmetry in the wings of the butterfly diagram}, issn = {0004-6361}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/200811430}, year = {2009}, abstract = {Aims. Sunspot distribution in the northern and southern solar hemispheres exibit striking synchronous behaviour on the scale of a Schwabe cycle. However, sometimes the bilateral symmetry of the Butterfly diagram relative to the solar equatorial plane breaks down. The investigation of this phenomenon is important to explaining the almost-periodic behaviour of solar cycles. Methods. We use cross-recurrence plots for the study of the time-varying phase asymmetry of the northern and southern hemisphere and compare our results with the latitudinal distribution of the sunspots. Results. We observe a long-term persistence of phase leading in one of the hemispheres, which lasts almost 4 solar cycles and probably corresponds to the Gleissberg cycle. Long-term variations in the hemispheric-leading do not demonstrate clear periodicity but are strongly anti-correlated with the long-term variations in the magnetic equator.}, language = {en} } @article{ZamoraLopezZhouKurths2009, author = {Zamora-Lopez, Gorka and Zhou, Changsong and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Graph analysis of cortical networks reveals complex anatomical communication substrate}, issn = {1054-1500}, doi = {10.1063/1.3089559}, year = {2009}, abstract = {Sensory information entering the nervous system follows independent paths of processing such that specific features are individually detected. However, sensory perception, awareness, and cognition emerge from the combination of information. Here we have analyzed the corticocortical network of the cat, looking for the anatomical substrate which permits the simultaneous segregation and integration of information in the brain. We find that cortical communications are mainly governed by three topological factors of the underlying network: (i) a large density of connections, (ii) segregation of cortical areas into clusters, and (iii) the presence of highly connected hubs aiding the multisensory processing and integration. Statistical analysis of the shortest paths reveals that, while information is highly accessible to all cortical areas, the complexity of cortical information processing may arise from the rich and intricate alternative paths in which areas can influence each other.}, language = {en} } @article{WuLiChenetal.2009, author = {Wu, Ye and Li, Ping and Chen, Maoyin and Xiao, Jinghua and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Response of scale-free networks with community structure to external stimuli}, issn = {0378-4371}, doi = {10.1016/j.physa.2009.03.037}, year = {2009}, abstract = {The response of scale-free networks with community structure to external stimuli is studied. By disturbing some nodes with different strategies, it is shown that the robustness of this kind of network can be enhanced due to the existence of communities in the networks. Some of the response patterns are found to coincide with topological communities. We show that such phenomena also occur in the cat brain network which is an example of a scale-free like network with community structure. Our results provide insights into the relationship between network topology and the functional organization in complex networks from another viewpoint.}, language = {en} } @article{WesselRiedlKurths2009, author = {Wessel, Niels and Riedl, Maik and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Is the normal heart rate "chaotic" due to respiration?}, issn = {1054-1500}, doi = {10.1063/1.3133128}, year = {2009}, abstract = {The incidence of cardiovascular diseases increases with the growth of the human population and an aging society, leading to very high expenses in the public health system. Therefore, it is challenging to develop sophisticated methods in order to improve medical diagnostics. The question whether the normal heart rate is chaotic or not is an attempt to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of cardiovascular dynamics and therefore a highly controversial topical challenge. In this contribution we demonstrate that linear and nonlinear parameters allow us to separate completely the data sets of the three groups provided for this controversial topic in nonlinear dynamics. The question whether these time series are chaotic or not cannot be answered satisfactorily without investigating the underlying mechanisms leading to them. We give an example of the dominant influence of respiration on heart beat dynamics, which shows that observed fluctuations can be mostly explained by respiratory modulations of heart rate and blood pressure (coefficient of determination: 96\%). Therefore, we recommend reformulating the following initial question: "Is the normal heart rate chaotic?" We rather ask the following: " Is the normal heart rate 'chaotic' due to respiration?"}, language = {en} } @article{SunLuKurthsetal.2009, author = {Sun, Xiaojuan and Lu, Qishao and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen and Wang, Qingyun}, title = {Spatiotemporal coherence resonance in a map lattice}, issn = {0218-1274}, doi = {10.1142/S021812740902310X}, year = {2009}, abstract = {We study the effects of parametric noise on a lattice network, which is locally modeled by a two-dimensional Rulkov map. We conclude that at some intermediate noise intensity, parametric noise can induce ordered circular patterns, which indicates the appearance of spatiotemporal coherence resonance in the studied lattice. With the observation of coherence-like manner in linear spatial cross-correlation, the coherence phenomena can be analyzed quantitatively.}, language = {en} } @article{SchinkelMarwanDimigenetal.2009, author = {Schinkel, Stefan and Marwan, Norbert and Dimigen, Olaf and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Confidence bounds of recurrence-based complexity measures}, issn = {0375-9601}, doi = {10.1016/j.physleta.2009.04.045}, year = {2009}, abstract = {In the recent past, recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) has gained an increasing interest in various research areas. The complexity measures the RQA provides have been useful in describing and analysing a broad range of data. It is known to be rather robust to noise and nonstationarities. Yet, one key question in empirical research concerns the confidence bounds of measured data. In the present Letter we suggest a method for estimating the confidence bounds of recurrence-based complexity measures. We study the applicability of the suggested method with model and real- life data.}, language = {en} } @article{RusconiVallerianiDunlopetal.2009, author = {Rusconi, Marco and Valleriani, Angelo and Dunlop, John William Chapman and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen and Weinkamer, Richard}, title = {Insights into the control of trabecular bone remodelling obtained by a Markov model}, issn = {8756-3282}, doi = {10.1016/j.bone.2009.03.467}, year = {2009}, language = {en} } @article{RomanoThielKurthsetal.2009, author = {Romano, Maria Carmen and Thiel, Marco and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen and Mergenthaler, Konstantin and Engbert, Ralf}, title = {Hypothesis test for synchronization : twin surrogates revisited}, issn = {1054-1500}, doi = {10.1063/1.3072784}, year = {2009}, abstract = {The method of twin surrogates has been introduced to test for phase synchronization of complex systems in the case of passive experiments. In this paper we derive new analytical expressions for the number of twins depending on the size of the neighborhood, as well as on the length of the trajectory. This allows us to determine the optimal parameters for the generation of twin surrogates. Furthermore, we determine the quality of the twin surrogates with respect to several linear and nonlinear statistics depending on the parameters of the method. In the second part of the paper we perform a hypothesis test for phase synchronization in the case of experimental data from fixational eye movements. These miniature eye movements have been shown to play a central role in neural information processing underlying the perception of static visual scenes. The high number of data sets (21 subjects and 30 trials per person) allows us to compare the generated twin surrogates with the "natural" surrogates that correspond to the different trials. We show that the generated twin surrogates reproduce very well all linear and nonlinear characteristics of the underlying experimental system. The synchronization analysis of fixational eye movements by means of twin surrogates reveals that the synchronization between the left and right eye is significant, indicating that either the centers in the brain stem generating fixational eye movements are closely linked, or, alternatively that there is only one center controlling both eyes.}, language = {en} } @article{RiedlvanLeeuwenSuhrbieretal.2009, author = {Riedl, Maik and van Leeuwen, Peter Jan and Suhrbier, Alexander and Malberg, Hagen and Groenemeyer, Dietrich and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen and Wessel, Niels}, title = {Testing foetal-maternal heart rate synchronization via model-based analyses}, issn = {1364-503X}, doi = {10.1098/rsta.2008.0277}, year = {2009}, abstract = {The investigation of foetal reaction to internal and external conditions and stimuli is an important tool in the characterization of the developing neural integration of the foetus. An interesting example of this is the study of the interrelationship between the foetal and the maternal heart rate. Recent studies have shown a certain likelihood of occasional heart rate synchronization between mother and foetus. In the case of respiratory-induced heart rate changes, the comparison with maternal surrogates suggests that the evidence for detected synchronization is largely statistical and does not result from physiological interaction. Rather, they simply reflect a stochastic, temporary stability of two independent oscillators with time-variant frequencies. We reanalysed three datasets from that study for a more local consideration. Epochs of assumed synchronization associated with short-term regulation of the foetal heart rate were selected and compared with synchronization resulting from white noise instead of the foetal signal. Using data-driven modelling analysis, it was possible to identify the consistent influence of the heartbeat duration of maternal beats preceding the foetal beats during epochs of synchronization. These maternal beats occurred approximately one maternal respiratory cycle prior to the affected foetal beat. A similar effect could not be found in the epochs without synchronization. Simulations based on the fitted models led to a higher likelihood of synchronization in the data segments with assumed foetal-maternal interaction than in the segment without such assumed interaction. We conclude that the data-driven model-based analysis can be a useful tool for the identification of synchronization.}, language = {en} }