Non-Gaussian noise- and system-size-induced coherence resonance of calcium oscillations in an array of coupled cells

In this paper, by introducing a particular kind of parametric non-Gaussian noise (NGN) via the inositol triphosphate (IP3), we study the effect of the NGN's deviation q from the Gaussian noise and its correlation time tau, as well as the cell number N on the intercellular Ca2+ oscillations in an array of bi-directionally coupled cells. It is found that Ca2+ oscillations may become the most ordered in time when q, tau or N is varied, which characterize the phenomenon of coherence resonance and system size resonance. These results show that the temporal coherence of the Ca2+ oscillation can be enhanced when the NGN or the cell number is optimal. This work extends the study of the NGN in calcium systems and provides new insight into the roles of the NGN in the intercellular Ca2+ oscillations in the coupled cells. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.