Two bump solutions of a homogenized Wilson-Cowan model with periodic microstructure (Q2442603)

The considered Wilson-Cowan model is an integro-differential equation in two spatial dimensions for the neural activity \(u(x,y,t)\) and it depends on the coupling strength known as connectivity kernel \(\omega\) and a firing rate function \(f (u)\). In an earlier paper [\textit{N. Svanstedt} et al., Nonlinearity 27, No. 6, 1391--1417 (2014; Zbl 1291.45014)], the existence and stability of y-independent single bump solutions for the homogenized Wilson-Cowan model with a Heaviside firing rate function have been studied. The existence and uniqueness of the solution have been obtained by means of a pinning function technique. The present work is devoted to the existence, uniqueness and stability of spatially symmetric 2-bump solutions for the same homogenized model.\newline To prove of the existence of 2-bump solutions one considers the pinning equation problem as a one-parameter family of mapping problems from the set of pulse widths to the threshold value plane having heterogeneity as parameter. One proves that 2-bump solutions exist for small and moderate values of the threshold for firing and do not exist when threshold exceeds a critical value which depends on the heterogeneity parameter. The stability is studied by considering the spectrum of the Fredholm integral operator and is done in a similar manner as in the above mentioned article.\newline Finally one provides an example where the connectivity function is given by means of a wizard hat function and an example where the connectivity function is expressed in terms of a damped oscillatory scaling function. In this case, the stability of 2-bump solution depends on switching on/ off the heterogeneity .