Dynamics in a light-sensitive neuron with two capacitive variables

Abstract Involvement of two capacitive variables into neuron models provides better description of the cell membrane property and then the diversity effect of electromagnetic field inner and outer of the cell membrane can be estimated in clear way. Specific electric components can be combined to build equivalent neural circuits for reproducing similar neural activities under some self-adaptive control schemes. A phototube converts external light into electric stimuli and the injected energy is encoded to excite the cell membranes for presenting suitable firing patterns. Two capacitors are connected via a linear resistor for mimicking the energy exchange and changes of membrane potentials. Combination of memristor into an additive branch circuit of the neural circuit can estimate the effect of electromagnetic induction and energy absorption. The energy function H for this light-sensitive and memristive neuron is calculated in theoretical way, and the average energy function 〈 H 〉 can predict the occurrence of stochastic resonance, which can be confirmed by estimating the distribution of signal to noise ratios. The firing mode is relative to the energy value of the neuron, and a control law is suggested to control the mode transition in neural activities in an adaptive way.