Signal transmission through excitable media by an oscillatory source

Living organisms transmit signals through local interactions with their neighbors. However, the precise timing of signals is fundamentally challenged by the presence of numerous stochastic reactions within interacting cells. Here we develop a minimal model to investigate the strength of signal propa...

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Main Authors: Lukas W. Kristensen, Michael Lisby, Mogens H. Jensen, Mathias S. Heltberg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2025-03-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.L012051
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author Lukas W. Kristensen
Michael Lisby
Mogens H. Jensen
Mathias S. Heltberg
author_facet Lukas W. Kristensen
Michael Lisby
Mogens H. Jensen
Mathias S. Heltberg
author_sort Lukas W. Kristensen
collection DOAJ
description Living organisms transmit signals through local interactions with their neighbors. However, the precise timing of signals is fundamentally challenged by the presence of numerous stochastic reactions within interacting cells. Here we develop a minimal model to investigate the strength of signal propagation in stochastic environments. We uncover a multimodal frequency dependency with a few local optima, which is robust in both one and two dimensions. Through mathematical analysis we explain the frequency dependency and uncover the interplay between stochasticity and external frequency in order to optimize the signaling strength of the system. Finally we investigate the possibilities of bidirectional reactions in the oscillating source, allowing us to define thermodynamic properties of the system and investigate the relationship between free-energy dissipation and precision of signaling, showing nontrivial frequency dependency in coupled cells.
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publishDate 2025-03-01
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spelling doaj-art-eb201895e4974bacb8de4b6fc15a44f12025-08-20T02:55:24ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642025-03-0171L01205110.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.L012051Signal transmission through excitable media by an oscillatory sourceLukas W. KristensenMichael LisbyMogens H. JensenMathias S. HeltbergLiving organisms transmit signals through local interactions with their neighbors. However, the precise timing of signals is fundamentally challenged by the presence of numerous stochastic reactions within interacting cells. Here we develop a minimal model to investigate the strength of signal propagation in stochastic environments. We uncover a multimodal frequency dependency with a few local optima, which is robust in both one and two dimensions. Through mathematical analysis we explain the frequency dependency and uncover the interplay between stochasticity and external frequency in order to optimize the signaling strength of the system. Finally we investigate the possibilities of bidirectional reactions in the oscillating source, allowing us to define thermodynamic properties of the system and investigate the relationship between free-energy dissipation and precision of signaling, showing nontrivial frequency dependency in coupled cells.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.L012051
spellingShingle Lukas W. Kristensen
Michael Lisby
Mogens H. Jensen
Mathias S. Heltberg
Signal transmission through excitable media by an oscillatory source
Physical Review Research
title Signal transmission through excitable media by an oscillatory source
title_full Signal transmission through excitable media by an oscillatory source
title_fullStr Signal transmission through excitable media by an oscillatory source
title_full_unstemmed Signal transmission through excitable media by an oscillatory source
title_short Signal transmission through excitable media by an oscillatory source
title_sort signal transmission through excitable media by an oscillatory source
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.L012051
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AT mathiassheltberg signaltransmissionthroughexcitablemediabyanoscillatorysource