Andrzejak, Ralph GregorRummel, ChristianMormann, FlorianSchindler, Kaspar A.2016-11-282016-11-282016Andrzejak RG, Rummel C, Mormann F, Schindler K. All together now: analogies between chimera state collapses and epileptic seizures. Sci Rep. 2016 Mar 9; 6: 23000. DOI: 10.1038/srep23000.2045-2322http://hdl.handle.net/10230/27621Conceptually and structurally simple mathematical models of coupled oscillator networks can show a rich variety of complex dynamics, providing fundamental insights into many real-world phenomena.A recent and not yet fully understood example is the collapse of coexisting synchronous and synchronous oscillations into a globally synchronous motion found in networks of identical oscillators. Here we show that this sudden collapse is promoted by a further decrease of synchronization, rather than by critically high synchronization. This strikingly counterintuitive mechanism can be found also in nature, as we demonstrate on epileptic seizures in humans. Analyzing spatiotemporal correlation profiles derived from intracranial electroencephalographic recordings (EEG) of seizures in epilepsy patients, we found a pronounced decrease of correlation at the seizure onsets. Applying our findings in a closed-loop control scheme to models of coupled oscillators in chimera states, we succeed in both provoking and preventing outbreaks of global synchronization. Our findings not only advance the understanding of networks of coupled dynamics but can open new ways to control them, thus offering a vast range of potential new applications.application/pdfeng© This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if the material is not included under the Creative Commons license, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to reproduce the material. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep23000Complex networksEpilepsyinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess