We have investigated the role that different connectivity regimes play in the dynamics of a network of Hodgkin-Huxley neurons by computer simulations. The different connectivity topologies exhibit the following features: random topologies give rise to fast system response yet are unable to produce coherent oscillations in the average activity of the network; on the other hand, regular topologies give rise to coherent oscillations, but in a temporal scale that is not in accordance with fast signal processing. Finally, small-world topologies, which fall between random and regular ones, take advantage of the best features of both, giving rise to fast system response with coherent oscillations.

• Received 26 July 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.2758