{
  "abstract": "Metastable states, a phenomenon observed in brain dynamics and many other systems, have been proposed as a key feature of healthy brain function, reflecting a balance between integration and segregation. However, it remains unclear how to capture this behavior within a dynamical-systems framework. In this paper, we propose sequential chaotic oscillations (SCOs), arising in excitatory-inhibitory threshold-linear networks (E-I TLNs), as a candidate dynamical mechanism for sequential metastability. As a simple form of chaotic itinerancy, SCOs occur under constant input and consist of a sequence of metastable states whose transition order can be predicted by the underlying graph. To identify the parameter regime for SCOs, we develop new graph rules for E-I TLNs and use them to characterize the fixed point structure of E-I TLNs on paths and cycles. Our results show that the emergence of SCOs requires unstable singleton fixed points and sufficiently strong inhibition. In addition to SCOs, we find that E-I oscillations need not be synchronized. Motivated by this, we introduce a decomposition into the z-mode and the mean mode, which capture excitatory differences and overall network activity, respectively. These modes are then used to distinguish attractors associated with the full-support fixed point of E-I TLNs on cycles.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2606.00373",
  "author_total": 2,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Jie Zang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Carina Curto"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2b6rrjjy92r6t.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2606.00373",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "2b6rrjjy92r6t",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.00373",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "q-bio.NC"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2805|Neural dynamics and brain function"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7163253326",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2606.00373",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-03",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2b6rrjjy92r6t.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:27:11Z",
      "native_id": "2606.00373",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.00373"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "arxiv:q-bio.NC",
      "subfield": "neuroscience"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Sequential chaotic oscillations in excitatory-inhibitory threshold-linear networks",
  "title_text": "Sequential chaotic oscillations in excitatory-inhibitory threshold-linear networks",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:27:11Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2b6rrjjy92r6t",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}