  We study patterns of partial synchronization in a network of FitzHugh-Nagumo
oscillators with empirical structural connectivity measured in human subjects.
We report the spontaneous occurrence of synchronization phenomena that closely
resemble the ones seen during epileptic seizures in humans. In order to obtain
deeper insights into the interplay between dynamics and network topology, we
perform long-term simulations of oscillatory dynamics on different paradigmatic
network structures: random networks, regular nonlocally coupled ring networks,
ring networks with fractal connectivities, and small-world networks with
various rewiring probability. Among these networks, a small-world network with
intermediate rewiring probability best mimics the findings achieved with the
simulations using the empirical structural connectivity. For the other network
topologies, either no spontaneously occurring epileptic-seizure-related
synchronization phenomena can be observed in the simulated dynamics, or the
overall degree of synchronization remains high throughout the simulation. This
indicates that a topology with some balance between regularity and randomness
favors the self-initiation and self-termination of episodes of seizure-like
strong synchronization.
