The 5-Cell Network

For this biological neural network simulation, each individual neuron chip is connected to the one to the right of it in a ring topology (see figure below). Each connection has a large inhibitory “post-synaptic” weight which hyperpolarizes the cell, which prevents it from generating action potential spikes. After the cell just recover from receiving a burst, it the threshold is low enough that it generates its own burst of spikes. At any given time, there are two bursting neurons. These action potentials bursts travel around the ring alternatively controlling which cells are “on“ and which are “off.” Model data is shown in the graph below, which matches (after accounting for the finite-precision roundoff error) the behavior shown by the physical network.
This ring oscillator is a basic model of biological muscle control pacemakers, which are oscillatory. These ring oscillators found in systems that control motor movements such as walking, jaw movements, respiration, or in the case of this project, swimming.

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5-cell ring topology